Serene, quietly joyous and utterly life-affirming.
Three friends with different philosophies spend a companionable day together, crocheting and weathering storms.
Boom is a bear, Twitty a robin and Snot a snail. Boom and Snot lie on their stomachs near a tree, reading, while Twitty crochets with pink yarn. Presently, the decisions begin. Twitty suggests staying where they are; Boom suggests going somewhere; Snot suggests waiting. So they each do: Twitty stays put (up the tree, where she’d already gone), Boom goes somewhere (up the tree to join her), and Snot waits on the ground, gathering yarn. When storm clouds arrive, Boom—standing on the treetop—leans into the wind and yells “Jump!”; Twitty shelters her yarn and cries “Hold on!”; Snot closes her eyes and murmurs, “Wind!” Lightning and a downpour make Boom yell “Run!” and Twitty cry “Hide!,” while Snot smiles and sighs, “Rain!” Here’s the subtle magnificence: Nary a speck of alienation from one another mars their vastly different approaches, nor does the text portray Snot’s easily found pleasure as more enlightened. The pale, softly colored backgrounds are bare, highlighting the characters, tree, yarn and dynamic weather. Liwska’s crosshatchings, downy edges and bright animal eyes are entrancing and tranquil. The crochet project progresses finely, growing (it’s briefly a tree cozy), unraveling (Boom jumps off the tree wearing it as a cape) and ending up someplace perfect.
Serene, quietly joyous and utterly life-affirming. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: April 17, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-670-78575-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
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
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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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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