A birthday party sparks a day of joyfulness for a young boy. Amidst the jollity, Daniel spies balloons, a snoozy cat, and a candle-bedecked cake, and hears the cacophony of fun that is synonymous with children’s parties. His favorite part of the festivities is the “Happy Birthday” song. This pleasant feeling of merriment and well-wishing extends itself beyond the party as Daniel spreads good cheer throughout the day. “Happy to you!” becomes his benediction as he bids good day to everyone (and thing) he meets. Nothing is excluded from his salutations: from the stuffed animals lying around his house to the wide world outside, Daniel hails the world with hearty joviality. When at last Daniel drifts off to sleep after his exciting afternoon, it’s with a sigh of pure contentment, secure in the knowledge of a day well and lovingly spent. Cohen (Digger Pig and the Turnip, not reviewed, etc.) adroitly conveys Daniel’s exuberance—a pinch of silliness and a dash of nonsense words add to toddler appeal. “Wind wiggled the trees, wiggledy, wiggledy, flippity leaves. And Mommy said, ‘Happy to you, flippity leaves.’ ‘Happy to you lippity leaves,’ Daniel said.” Litzinger’s bright pastel illustrations echo the liveliness of the tale. Cheerful domestic scenes comically depict Daniel and his mom capering about with abandoned bliss. The full-bleed paintings, laden with color, are warmly inviting. Like an unexpected gift, Cohen’s bubbly tale will brighten reader’s days. (Picture book. 2-4)
Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2001
ISBN: 0-618-04229-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery.
A troop of cats traverse a spooky landscape as they make their way to a party hosted by ghosts.
Each double-page spread shows the felines’ encounters with the likes of an owl, jack-o’-lanterns or a bat. One or two of these creepy meetings may be too abstract for the youngest readers, as the cats hear eerie noises with no discernible source on the page. The text, which consists of one rhyming couplet per scene, mostly scans despite a couple of wobbles: “Five black cats get a bit of a scare / As the flip-flapping wings of a bat fill the air.” The sleek, slightly retro art, likely created using a computer, depicts the cats cavorting at night through a shadowy cityscape, the countryside and a haunted house; they may scare some toddlers and delight others. A brighter color palette would have given the project a friendlier, more universal appeal. Luckily, the well-lit, final party scene provides a playful conclusion.
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-58925-611-8
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
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