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PETS

Name: PETS
Author: Amandine Notaert
ISBN: 978-2-7338-4611-7

From the My Little Sound Book series

illustrated by Amandine Notaert ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2017

An adequately crafted sound book that doesn’t last very long (or, perhaps, just long enough).

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Little animals make all kinds of sounds.

“The cat meows,” and “the dog barks” in this board book, and a guinea pig, a parrot, and a canary also each make their signature noises. Each turn of the page presents a new scene involving a different household pet. The illustrations are labeled here and there with such words as “cage,” “basket,” and “perch” for little readers to learn. The largest animal in each spread has a speaker icon next to it that little ones can press to hear the sound the animal makes. The final two pages of the book present photographs of the animals with their illustrated counterparts next to them. A similar title, Baby Animals, is concurrently published and highlights puppies, kittens, foals, seal pups, and bear cubs. The books' speakers are in the back cover, which will muffle the sound for readers who hold the books in their laps or read them on a surface. The sound quality is otherwise fair, but the books' batteries don’t last too long. After three or four reads the sounds grow noticeably quieter. The illustrations are serviceable, composed of the usual rounded, big-eyed critters and warm colors that currently permeate board books.

An adequately crafted sound book that doesn’t last very long (or, perhaps, just long enough). (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: July 1, 2017

ISBN: 978-2-7338-4611-7

Page Count: 10

Publisher: Auzou Publishing

Review Posted Online: Aug. 6, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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SPOOKY POOKIE

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 7, 2015

A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character.

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One of Boynton's signature characters celebrates Halloween.

It's Halloween time, and Pookie the pig is delighted. Mom helps the little porker pick out the perfect Halloween costume, a process that spans the entire board book. Using an abcb rhyme scheme, Boynton dresses Pookie in a series of cheerful costumes, including a dragon, a bunny, and even a caped superhero. Pookie eventually settles on the holiday classic, a ghost, by way of a bedsheet. Boynton sprinkles in amusing asides to her stanzas as Pookie offers costume commentary ("It's itchy"; "It's hot"; "I feel silly"). Little readers will enjoy the notion of transforming themselves with their own Halloween costumes while reading this book, and a few parents may get some ideas as well. Boynton's clean, sharp illustrations are as good as ever. This is Pookie's first holiday title, but readers will surely welcome more.

A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: July 7, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-553-51233-5

Page Count: 18

Publisher: Robin Corey/Random

Review Posted Online: July 26, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
HIPPOS REMAIN CALM
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

- BOOK REVIEW
WOO HOO! YOU'RE DOING GREAT!
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

- BOOK REVIEW
HAPPY EASTER, LITTLE POOKIE
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

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LLAMA LLAMA TRICK OR TREAT

From the Llama Llama series

by Anna Dewdney ; illustrated by Anna Dewdney ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 19, 2014

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In this board book designed for the littlest llama lovers, adorable-as-ever Llama Llama (Llama Llama Red Pajama, 2005, etc.) gets ready for some Halloween fun.

Dewdney’s characteristic spare, apt rhymes convey a lot of action in effortlessly readable fashion. A charming and simple introduction to Halloween and its associated activities, this title finds little Llama Llama choosing and carving a pumpkin, pouring candy into bowls, picking out a costume and, finally, trick-or-treating. The costume Llama Llama decides to don—pointy teeth and a black mask and cape—is enough to frighten and fool his friends but not readers, who will immediately recognize and smile at the silly little mini-Dracula. With Dewdney’s characters as expressive as ever, young readers will be drawn right into the holiday fun, eagerly anticipating which costume Llama Llama will choose and excited to see him scare his friends and score some candy at trick-or-treat. In the equally appealing companion title, Llama Llama Jingle Bells,the little fellow gets ready for Christmas, baking and decorating some cookies in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. This simple holiday title will win Llama Llama new fans, and old friends will want to add it and its companion to their collections. (Board book. 1-2)