A helpful tale for building empathy and navigating change.
Preparing for Grandpa to move in means saying goodbye to a beloved table and embracing the chance to make memories with a new one.
Although excited for Grandpa’s arrival, young Clare feels conflicted when Mama announces that their family needs a bigger dining table. Memories of their old table and anxious questions swirl in Clare’s mind as the family brings home and lovingly fixes up their new one. Neighbors, friends, and family stop by with things to help Grandpa feel at home and receive cordial invitations (“There’s always room for one more”) to join them for dinner in return. But change is hard, and Clare eventually dissolves into tears. Mama comforts an overwhelmed Clare and says that Grandpa might be missing what feels like home to him, too. Clare is encouraged by the suggestion that a larger table means more room to make new memories, and the child’s first memory will be to help bake a peach cobbler, Clare and Grandpa’s favorite treat. The family puts the finishing touches on their feast with the arrival of guests and then finally Grandpa, who is pleased at the surprise. McGrath deftly immerses readers in Clare’s mind, while Lobo’s warm and whimsical illustrations capture this caring, tightly knit Black family and their diverse community. With the party now in full swing and new memories to cherish, Clare fully understands that “there’s always room for one more.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A helpful tale for building empathy and navigating change. (Picture book. 4-9)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2023
ISBN: 9781665925372
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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