This book has a lot going on, but a little work is necessary to take it all in. (Picture book. 1-3)
Sixteen animals from 15 different countries around the globe say hello in their native languages.
Each country is named on the page and represented by an animal. A sign hanging from a tree branch near a lynx reads “Romania,” while the “Netherlands” is written on a poster decorating a rabbit’s cozy living room. Some of the countries are represented by their national animal. A Russian brown bear, dressed in a muffler, hat, and warm boots, plays with matryoshka dolls, and the giant panda in China sits amid bamboo, eating with chopsticks from a bowl. Most of the pages feature iconic symbols associated with that country: The Italian wolf sits before a meal of pizza, spaghetti, and gelato, saying, “Ciao,” for instance. Each boldface greeting is followed by its pronunciation spelled out in parentheses. Reflecting global realities, some languages are used more than once: The beaver in Canada, rooster in France, and the lemur in Madagascar all say, “Bonjour.” At the same time, the moose in Canada says, “Hello,” and the bilingual lemur greets readers in Malagasy as well. The last double-page spread identifies each animal by species and language but not by country, so some flipping back and forth is necessary. Illustrations are colorful and vivid, but the animals can be difficult to recognize due to the stylization of their depictions.
This book has a lot going on, but a little work is necessary to take it all in. (Picture book. 1-3)Pub Date: March 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4867-1559-6
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Flowerpot Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
A fun, new take on droppings.
Youngsters can learn about where and how various animals, domestic and wild, relieve themselves.
Via a pull-tab embedded in each recto (not, thankfully, in the rectum) readers can see the before and after, and a goldfish in a bowl leaves a trail while swimming. The verso asks each creature where it does its business, and then a (sometimes-forced) rhyming quatrain, translated from Italian, answers the question: “And where do YOU poop, mouse? / When inside my tummy / Starts to feel not so good / It’s time for a poop / On these chips made of wood!” The final double-page spread queries readers: “And where do YOU poop?” A redheaded, White toddler’s face is visible below this question; the pull-tab on the right opens a bathroom to reveal a White toddler, this time with medium brown hair, happily and modestly sitting on a blue toddler potty. The accompanying quatrain provides some developmentally appropriate guidance for feeling the signs of a movement coming on. Baruzzi’s art is droll and graphically clean (inasmuch as the depiction of excrement can be described that way). Little fingers may need some help finding the relatively easy-to-open and sturdy pull-tabs, since they blend into each page. It works as both a biology lesson and potty-training encouragement.
A fun, new take on droppings. (Novelty board book. 18 mos.-3)Pub Date: May 11, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-66265-042-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: minedition
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2021
Useful for toddling birders in need of board books about colors.
Gorgeous birds amid foliage of similar hues introduce eight basic colors.
The two birds presented on each spread not only are of similar coloration, but also live in the same North American habitat. A scarlet tanager and a cardinal, both male, perch in a red maple tree; a male Eastern bluebird and a blue jay appear with morning glories and blueberries. The name of each color is printed in large font, while the name of each bird is in a much smaller one. Whether the bird shown is male or female, or if the male and female have similar coloring, is also indicated. The names of the trees they perch upon are identified in a note on the back cover. These details will be lost on most toddlers, but caregivers will appreciate being able to answer questions knowledgeably. Colors featured are from the standard box of crayons, except that pink is substituted for purple. Black and white share a spread. The cover image, of a cardinal, goldfinch, and bluebird in a birdbath, is not nearly as inviting as the images within. The final spread shows children (one white, one black, one Asian) assembling a puzzle that includes the same birds. This may serve as a reprise but will probably be skipped over. Bird-loving readers will probably feel that the space could have been put to better use by giving white birds their own page or adding a purple martin.
Useful for toddling birders in need of board books about colors. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: May 2, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-58089-742-6
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: April 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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