Readers’ satisfaction at spotting Wolf here and there and guessing the twist might enhance the first read, but that may not...
Five little piggies watch out for the wolf…but not for the reason readers might expect.
Piggle, the first pig, sets out for the store to buy the ingredients for a cake. Piggleton, the next little piggy, stays home to wrap boxes and blow up balloons. Wolf is spotted outside, and the pigs inside quickly close the blinds. Third piggy Piggit hastens through the woods delivering invitations. Owl warns that Wolf has passed by recently. Piggums, the fourth little piggy, keeps lookout from the roof, and the smallest, Pigbert, cries: “Wee wee wee! Everybody hide!” Wolf arrives, and, as readers will have surely surmised, the pigs and other animals gathered within shout, “SURPRISE!” It’s Wolf’s birthday. The huffing and puffing is all aimed at candles. Rissi’s conceit will be guessed by all but the youngest listeners long before the reveal. Santoso’s colorful, soft-edged cartoon illustrations are pleasing if compositionally busy. The slightly muted palette depicts five expressive piggies who look far more distinct than their confusingly similar names would indicate. Both the baroque names and sophisticated compositions go to war with the transparency of the plot, making it hard for this book to reach its most natural audience of older toddlers just graduated from nursery rhymes.
Readers’ satisfaction at spotting Wolf here and there and guessing the twist might enhance the first read, but that may not be enough to have them demanding rereads. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: April 16, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4847-8556-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2019
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
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Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.
You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!
What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0534-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
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