Mossy, majestic, and marvelously meandering, this lush forest labyrinth is brimming with magic at every bend.
When the forest beckons, pick your path with a pinch of magic.
At the edge of the woods, you peer into darkness and prepare to choose the best way through. Perhaps you’ll stick to the well-worn path; it’s lovely, though somewhat dull. If instead you want to ride a griffin, don’t forget to offer it a gift first. Or perhaps stowing away on a moss giant is more your style? Tuck yourself into her lush green hair and enjoy the slow ride. You could always take the sprite tunnels (they’re great fun, but the journey will last a century or more). Readers can take six whimsical ways through the forest, but only the most adventurous of travelers might want to seek a seventh. “You do? Excellent. I knew I was right about you.” The real wonder is found within the woods, not on the other side, notes the unseen narrator, who invites readers to stay awhile. Reese’s spare, second-person prose in playful conversation with the audience adds an interactive element to the story, numbering and describing the different ways forward. Kurtz’s gorgeous and positively glowing painterly digital illustrations steal the show. Her expert use of light and texture creates a rich, magical world of wonder within the forest. Among the adventurers are children with various skin tones and hair textures; one child has a cochlear implant.
Mossy, majestic, and marvelously meandering, this lush forest labyrinth is brimming with magic at every bend. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2025
ISBN: 9780063356269
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: yesterday
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
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
