Blake, Quentin. Loveykins. Quentin Blake, Illus. Candlewick, 09/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5362-3772-6. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.
A woman finds a baby bird on the ground and takes it home to care for it, until it grows so large it flies off to see the world. The story is full of humorous details, naming all the foods she feeds the bird, how she wheels him around in a baby carriage, and more, but it is too long to read at storytime. This will work best as a family readaloud or for accomplished primary grade readers. The story is supported by Blake’s quirky cartoon artwork, done using watercolor and ink, adding humor and distinction, although all of the human characters are shown as white. Originally published in 2003, this new edition is a great choice for libraries because the original is out of print.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool