Starred Review Bob, a lonely seagull, trudges along the shore. When a songbird offers him a bright red jacket, he's taken aback by the kind offer. The songbird says, "I no longer need it," so Bob happily accepts the jacket, which looks "swanky stylish" and feels "like wearing a big hug." No longer in a slump, he greets the crabs at play, takes time to help a pelican, and calls out to other gulls. When the animals respond, he initially attributes their friendliness to his cool-looking jacket, but after a huge wave washes it away, they loyally retrieve it and give it back to him. And when a sad-looking turtle walks by, he gives his jacket away, saying, "I no longer need it." This picture book features an unassuming main character who discovers the power of kindness. The story is told in concise sentences within speech balloons, and every word is well chosen. The lovable characters' emotions find expression mainly in the appealing, sometimes amusing illustrations, which were drawn in pencil and digitally painted. The cartoonlike look of the art gives the book immediate appeal, and the unexpected details, such as fries in the jacket pockets, are endearing. Fun for reading aloud and fine for discussing.

A red jacket leads to big changes.A small gray bird gives Bob, a sorrowful sea gull, a red jacket with fries in its pockets because it's no longer needed. Bob is increasingly thrilled by the "swanky stylish" coat, which feels like "wearing a big hug," and the jacket also inspires him to be outgoing and helpful. Crabs and flounders are astounded to see this side of Bob, and when he returns to the undifferentiated flock, they greet him enthusiastically. Oblivious to a wave about to descend, Bob is spun in the undertow. When he washes up on the beach with the other detritus, the jacket is gone. Bob is on the brink of returning to his depressed state. Then his many pals find and return the jacket. Bob realizes that he has "so many friends, even without my swanky red jacket." He happily puts it back on, but then, as a mournful turtle trudges by, he offers the jacket, because "I no longer need it," and the turtle visibly perks up. The speech bubbles are in clear, large letters, the jacket's red pop brightens the pages along with red and blue crabs and the blue sea, and the animals, drawn in cartoon style, are entirely personable. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A delightful story of finding self-confidence and friends-and then paying it forward. (Picture book. 4-8)

Embodying a Charlie Brown mien, Bob the seagull wanders off solo while the rest of the seagull gang hangs out gabbing. Subsequent vignettes show the bird longing to join a pile-up of crabs and looking on enviously at a cozy readaloud. When an upbeat bird dressed in a flashy red jacket walks by and sees Bob’s slumped posture, it makes an offer: “Would you like a red jacket?” Asked why, the bird replies, “I no longer need it.” Holt (the Bob Holt Celebrates series) tells the story in handwritten speech balloons, spindly cartoon lines, and saturated hues. The bird hands the jacket over (“There are fries in the pockets,” it says), Bob is delighted, and things start to change. Is it the jacket and fries, or Bob’s newly bolstered sense of self? “Let’s grab tea sometime,” he says to a seal; “Sure, Bob,” the seal says back, “that would be great.” When Bob loses the jacket, its return makes him appreciate his wealth of relationships, and he soon welcomes a chance to let it work its magic on someone else. Examining the bond between self-regard and friendship, this wish-fulfillment fantasy gets extra power from a vision of non-attachment to a desirable object. Ages 4–8. (July)

PreS-Gr 3— Bob the seagull is feeling a distinct lack of confidence. He walks around, silently brooding, head down, until a kindly songbird offers him its beautiful red jacket (with French fries in the pockets!). Bob looks good in the red jacket—so good, in fact, that he is now brimming with self-confidence. But when he loses the jacket in a giant wave, his newfound sense of self is threatened. Holt's lightly humorous story pairs well with his colorful pencil and digital illustrations, including a particularly strange and funny spread of Bob looking inside a whale's blowhole for his jacket. The entire book is sure to delight young readers. The characters speak entirely in speech bubbles, which could make for a fun dual reading experience for children and caregivers. VERDICT For story hours on a gray day, this is a great choice for readers who are shy, or anyone looking for a humorous, beachside read.— Kadie Seitz