The back-of-the-book blurb declares that it’s “an awesome game”; just saying something’s awesome doesn't make it so.
A barnyard seek-and-find for toddlers.
Each busy double-page spread hides a number of animals—none of whom bear much resemblance to their namesakes in the real world. Instead, they are stylized, cutesy collage creations outlined in stitch patterns, resembling stuffed patchwork animals more than anything else. Although a counting book that goes from one through five should be simple, this one isn’t, skipping from “three” to “five” abruptly: “You found Cow, and Pig, and Bunny! / They knew they could count on you! / How many friends are hiding now? / FOUR?...No, FIVE! It's true!” Skipping over “four” will only confuse young children, who are already challenged by the concept of one-to-one correspondence. The back of the book tells readers they will be helping Silly Stitches with the counting, and it’s unclear which animal—if any—is Silly Stitches, since that character is never specified within the text. These weaknesses are repeated in the second Silly Stitches book, Guess Who's Hiding in the Forest, published simultaneously. Tactile elements, glitter, and shiny highlights are not enough to redeem either title.
The back-of-the-book blurb declares that it’s “an awesome game”; just saying something’s awesome doesn't make it so. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4867-0615-0
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Flowerpot Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, but the syrupy sweetness will cloy after the holiday.
Animal parents declare their love for their offspring in alphabetical order.
Each page displays an enormous capital letter, one line of verse with the keyword capitalized, and a loving nonhuman parent gazing adoringly at their baby. “A is for Always. I always love you more. / B is for Butterfly kisses. It’s you that I adore.” While not named or labelled as such, the A is also for an alligator and its hatchling and B is for a butterfly and a butterfly child (not a caterpillar—biology is not the aim of this title) interacting in some way with the said letter. For E there are an elephant and a calf; U features a unicorn and foal; and X, keyed to the last letter of the animal’s name, corresponds to a fox and three pups. The final double-page spread shows all the featured creatures and their babies as the last line declares: “Baby, I love you from A to Z!” The verse is standard fare and appropriately sentimental. The art is cartoony-cute and populated by suitably loving critters on solid backgrounds. Hearts accent each scene, but the theme of the project is never in any doubt.
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, but the syrupy sweetness will cloy after the holiday. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7282-2095-6
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead.
An Easter-themed board-book parody of the traditional nursery rhyme.
Unfortunately, this effort is just as sugary and uninspired as The Itsy Bitsy Snowman, offered by the same pair in 2015. A cheerful white bunny hops through a pastel world to distribute candy and treats for Easter but spills his baskets. A hedgehog, fox, mouse, and various birds come to the bunny’s rescue, retrieving the candy, helping to devise a distribution plan, and hiding the eggs. Then magically, they all fly off in a hot air balloon as the little animals in the village emerge to find the treats. Without any apparent purpose, the type changes color to highlight some words. For very young children every word is new, so highlighting “tiny tail” or “friends” makes no sense. Although the text is meant to be sung, the words don't quite fit the rhythm of the original song. Moreover, there are not clear motions to accompany the text; without the fingerplay movements, this book has none of the satisfying verve of the traditional version.
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-5621-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
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