BILLY AND THE HOLE, by Jessica Goecke, Flamingo Books, Aug. 11, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)
A boy gets more than her bargained for when he makes friends with something unexpected in Billy and the Hole, by Jessica Goecke.
One day, Billy found a hole.
It wasn’t there yesterday.
But there it was, right in his favorite spot, under his favorite tree.
This hole in the ground is no ordinary hole in the ground. For it speaks to Billy with a voice that’s cold and hard, like ancient stone. At first, the hole in the ground is polite and kind, and tells Billy how clever he is. And, well, Billy just can’t resist his new odd friend and their nice words. But when the hole’s requests grow more extreme, and Billy can’t always meet them–Billy will have to take matters into his own hands before his new friend takes matters into theirs. —Synopsis provided by Flamingo Books
Billy and the Hole is the type of story the youngest of readers will enjoy but won’t necessarily understand the subtext. As they grow older, the idea of friendship boundaries and how lopsided a friendship can become without those guardrails should take hold.
Jessica Goecke’s storytelling is impeccable. Her pacing, tone and sense of humor all work seamlessly. Her stylized illustrations are expressive with a touch of dark whimsy. And her use of space makes the entire story come alive.
Billy and the Hole is a unique offering from Goecke. Filled with dark humor and a dry tone, this is a picture book that will appeal to kids and adults alike.
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