Annie, appealing as she is, lacks a voice. It will be difficult to make her someone children will want to know.
Annie loves to paint colorful pictures. But what happens to Annie when others don’t seem to share her excitement for them?
As classmates snicker and sadness overtakes Annie, her bright, colorful world fades to gray. Alone on the playground after school, Annie decides to try drawing again and creates a turquoise bird with uneven wings. Despite Annie’s shame at its imperfections, her bird magically flies off the page, trailing a turquoise swoop. With increasing cheer, she continues to draw, creating a colorful forest. At school the next day, she and the other students draw together again, this time all of them expressing joy with color. Unfortunately, this book’s plot is murky, starting with the fact that readers never learn why the children picked this “Wednesday, like any other,” to “giggle” and take “sneaky looks” at Annie’s pictures. Sadly, Annie does not talk to anyone about her feelings; she assumes how others feel about her pictures. Furthermore, the reason for her classmates’ sudden turnaround is likewise obscure. The flowery prose does not help children sort these issues out, but the draining of color from the scenes to gray is a nice representation of Annie’s emotional state. Annie herself, a little Black girl, is adorable, and her body language is expressive even though she never speaks; however, the black cloud that frequently floats over Annie’s head is clichéd. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Annie, appealing as she is, lacks a voice. It will be difficult to make her someone children will want to know. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-11022-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A satisfyingly cozy winter holiday tale.
The protagonist of The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt (2020) enjoys a “boo-tiful” holiday.
The titular spirit—comprised of a patterned quilt rather than a plain white sheet like his peers—loves drifting outside in the cold. His heavier fabrics may slow him down the rest of the year, but in winter they keep him warm enough to enjoy the outdoors while his friends remain inside. One December evening, while visiting the human neighborhood, he notices people singing and putting up twinkling lights (amid the Christmas decorations, one window features a menorah). The little ghost quilt is happy for himself but sad that his pals aren’t witnessing all this, too. The sight of a holiday tree inspires him: He’ll bring a tree to his friends! A branch that blows off during a snowstorm will do nicely. For ornaments, he uses odds and ends from the attic of his house. And when his friends arrive at his home that night, everyone decorates the tree together. The moon, peeping through the window and reflecting off a mirror from the attic, provides the glorious pièce de résistance: The make-believe tree glows brilliantly. This quietly lovely holiday tale underscores the true meaning of the holidays: friendship and togetherness. The illustrations rely on a muted palette with spots of vivid colors; like a quilt, they’re soft and delicate. Human characters vary in skin tone.
A satisfyingly cozy winter holiday tale. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9781774885376
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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