Squid in Pants [Ready-to-Read]
by Kaz Windness; illus. by the author
Primary    Simon Spotlight    32 pp.
5/25    9781665944304    $18.99
Paper ed.  9781665944298    $5.99
e-book ed.  9781665944311    $5.99

A squid and friends—a turtle, pufferfish, and crab—snag some clothes hanging off the side of a small boat in this kooky, distinctive book for early readers. The buoyant text relies on one-syllable words and a poetic use of rhythm, rhyme, and repetition in phrases and short sentences that have a Seussian cadence. “Four friends, one boat. Two socks, one coat.” Pages awash in dappled shades of turquoise, aqua, peach, and raspberry reflect the playful mood as the wide-eyed ocean creatures try on clothes and bicker over who gets the flip-flops. Geisel honoree Windness (for Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends) seamlessly incorporates speech bubbles into the text, adding a layer of complexity and interest while also keeping the low-stakes plot sashaying along. When Squid gets upset, disaster strikes: “I inked!” The friends have just figured out how to work the ink stains into their evolving sense of style when along comes the kid from the boat: “Give my clothes back!” Negotiations ensue, a pair of underwear’s early appearance pays off, and the sea creatures put on a parade. A coda with the kid sporting a marine-modified outfit ties the bow on this amusing offering.

From the July/August 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.