A laugh-inducing look at a puffed-up personality.
A haughty sheep has a misconstrued view of his martial arts abilities.
With hooves flying in a sprightly jump and a toothy, proud smile on his face, a bipedal sheep shouts out his nickname: “They call me… // Baa Baa Black Belt!” With a deadpan look, another sheep on the farm retorts, “We never call him that.” The martial arts master shows off some of his incredible techniques, accompanied by his reluctant student, a pig named Pork Chop. Alas, when Baa Baa Black Belt attempts to break a piece of wood, he winds up injuring his hoof (immersed in Hamlet, Pork Chop scarcely looks up), and his “spinning BACK KICK” causes a pile-up of cows, each knocking the other over like a row of dominoes. Perhaps Baa Baa Black Belt’s skills aren’t quite up to par, but that doesn’t stop him from striking a winning pose and basking in imagined glory—even if the cows aren’t so amused. Filled with giggle-worthy asides from peripheral farm friends, silly happenstances that play directly against the protagonist’s ego, and goofy, exaggerated cartoon art, this Australian import will have storytime audiences rolling in the aisles (but hopefully not kicking and chopping).
A laugh-inducing look at a puffed-up personality. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781546138426
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
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