The first book in my next picture book series has a GREAT review from Kirkus! 🎉🎉🎉 (If you know Kirkus, they can be pretty harsh. 🙄) My friend Don Tate is KILLING IT! I can’t wait for you all to meet Roto and Roy!!! (in February! Preorder NOW!)

Kirkus: No wildfire stands a chance when Roy Thunder and his helicopter, Roto, take to the skies. Firefighting pilot Roy, whose race is ambiguous, is a superhero in every way. One morning, after a lightning strike sparks a wildfire in a canyon, Roy and Roto—who is anthropomorphic with green eyes—set off together to fight the blaze. Their strenuous mission involves using a hose to draw up water from a lake and flying for hours “through the high winds, smoke, and heat.” Although it takes filling Roto’s tank with water 10 times to put out the conflagration, the heroes prevail. However, just when all seems safe, they spot a petrified puppy precariously close to a cliff’s edge. In a daring air rescue, Roto hovers and Roy rappels to the ground to reach the forlorn animal. Job complete, the pair head back to Hangar One, where they receive a true hero's welcome. This engaging, rhyming picture book looks and feels like a large comic book. The cartoonlike illustrations are action-packed and divided into panels on several spreads. Like classic superhero comics, there is plenty of onomatopoeia, inviting audience participation. During the air rescue scene, the layout changes to horizontal orientation twice, a move that will surprise and delight readers. When read aloud, the book does feel a bit long. A fun friendship story for young readers fond of brave exploits, helicopters, comics, or any combination thereof.