A rousing affirmation of Chinese American history, identity, and voice.
A Chinese American child finds power in family history.
As Mei’s family strolls through Washington, D.C., to the city’s Chinatown, Mom and the youngster recount the story of Mei’s great-great-grandfather Samuel Moy Gong, the second American-born Chinese person in D.C. Each year, they stop by important sites as they remember him—the bench commemorating Samuel, the house where he was born. But this time, when they arrive at the Friendship Archway to take their customary photo, a huge crowd has gathered for a rally against Asian hate. Taking the stage, Mom invites Mei to share their family’s story. Although Mei’s voice is shaky at first, it grows with encouragement from Mom, Dad, and even Mei’s baby brother. As Mei concludes, “We are American, too,” the crowd heartily echoes those moving words. Drawing from her own family history, Chase deftly tells a story about community, protest, and the importance of speaking up. Chen’s softly impressionistic digital illustrations alternate gray and sepia tones with more vibrant splashes of color, blurring the lines between past and present and making it clear that history is always with us. The closing spread pairs Mei’s final potent words (“This is our home. My great-great-grandfather. My family. And me”) with a warm depiction of the family and their ancestors sharing a bench. Mei’s father presents white, suggesting that Mei is biracial.
A rousing affirmation of Chinese American history, identity, and voice. (author’s note, family tree) (Picture book. 4-8.)Pub Date: June 10, 2025
ISBN: 9780374390211
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.
Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.
In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780062644695
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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