(2) PS Each element of this playful battle of wills between two best friends exudes joie de vivre. Otter spots sticks and branches and sees them as toys. Beaver, however, sees them as tools to build a dam, and so the pair spends a happy day jostling over who gets the twigs. The patterned, rhythmic dialogue between Otter and Beaver makes for a musical read-aloud: "Give me those branches. I need those branches. Please give me give me give me those branches right now!" The illustrations reinforce that this is all in good fun: frolicking, not bickering, without any moralizing over the value of work over play. Exuberant Otter is shaped like a smile, and stalwart Beaver is sturdy and strong. The two mirror each other in spread after spread, set against sunny, impressionistic backdrops made of swoops and swirls in glowing yellows and cool aquas. While this book is bound to become a storytime favorite, the word repetition, straightforward plot, and clear images make it a fine choice for new readers too. Please give us give us give us more Otter and Beaver.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(1) PS Four brief stories take us through young Kenny's day as he gets dressed, has an encounter with a monster-like vacuum cleaner, learns "no hands!" soccer skills, and resists bedtime. Pinkney's text is both spare and engagingly lively--and the clean font and page design and use of repetition make this an excellent choice for both emerging readers and preschoolers (think Watanabe's How Do I Put It On?). Each chapter is introduced by a page of full color containing a brief introductory sentence or two ("Kenny doesn't like the vacuum cleaner. It sleeps in the closet"; "Kenny's bedtime is in five minutes. But Kenny is not tired"), nicely delineating the four sections. The situations are all ones to which young readers will relate--and they will cheer as Kenny emerges victorious each time ("Is Kenny dressed? Yes!"). The illustrations--in Pinkney's signature swirly art, full of movement and energy--capture Kenny's personality and emotions. They also portray, understatedly but definitely, the warmth of this family's relationships: he and Daddy laugh together in a post-vacuum-cleaner tickling session; his sister high-fives him after his soccer lesson; his mother reads him a book at bedtime. Pinkney keeps a tight focus on Kenny, his family, and a few signature objects (particularly his yellow toy school bus and beloved stuffed animal Kitty), helping viewers to likewise focus as they spend the day with this delightful Black boy.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(2) PS What's a kid to do when he wants a puppy but receives a toy truck instead? Carter cheerfully makes the best of it by pretending that the truck is a puppy. Vibrant, saturated tones and swirling shapes, only semi-contained by thick black outlines, reflect the protagonist in motion and highlight the warmth and comfort of his (grownup-free) imaginary play. Interspersed sound effects provide opportunities to make animal sounds and truck noises.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(2) K-3 "Owen loved playing ball. BUT playing ball...didn't always love Owen." With a subtle message about perseverance, Pinkney's latest offering begins on a soccer field, then takes flight as a boy's imagination soars. After a series of fantastical scenes, Owen floats and flies through the game, having learned about focus and determination. Loose black-ink brushstrokes accented with swabs of color visually convey movement.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2015

(2) K-3 After Cosmo's damaged robot Rex is taken to the asteroid dump, his parents console him with a "Super Solar System Utility Belt." With the belt, Cosmo finds and restores the deranged Rex to his gentle personality--and the belt helps repair Cosmo's relationship with his bossy big sister. This tale matter-of-factly takes place on Mars; the rustic scratchboard paintings conform well to the red-rocked landscape and its space-suited inhabitants.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2000