A soothing tale for even the wiggliest of little ones.
A restless young bunny turns to yoga when she gets lost in the woods.
Yo-Yo bounces, jiggles, wiggles, and giggles. Grandpa decides that he’s going to teach her—and all the little bunnies—yoga in order to help them feel calm. Roly and Flo don’t seem to have any trouble following along as Grandpa demonstrates the various poses, but Yo-Yo is easily distracted. When she follows a butterfly into the forest, she winds up lost. But she uses what Grandpa taught her, and each calming move and deep breath helps her think clearly and find her way back to the other bunnies. Newly empowered by her skills, Yo-Yo draws on them at times when she feels too wiggly to relax. Many little readers will relate to Yo-Yo’s can’t-sit-still energy, and the included poses are simple and approachable for all ages. The final pages invite readers to try yoga; images show Yo-Yo in each pose with a basic description. The story demonstrates the universal benefits of slowing down and quieting the mind; a teacher or caregiver could easily use the book as a lead-in to an age-appropriate yoga practice. The illustrations are sweet and inviting, and Yo-Yo is an exuberant and adorable protagonist. Details such as candles and books in the cozy, snuggly bunny warren are endearing.
A soothing tale for even the wiggliest of little ones. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9798887770567
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
An accessible entrance into the world of social-emotional skills.
What do you do when the world turns upside down?
Freckled redhead Tilda is a happy only child with a rollicking personality. With lots of books and toys and a multiracial group of friends, life is perfect as far as she’s concerned…until her world undergoes a troubling change (a subtle hint in the illustrations suggests that Tilda’s parents have divorced). Suddenly, nothing feels right, everything seems hard, and she doesn’t want to play with her friends. To reflect this emotional disorientation, the artwork shows Tilda in spatially distorted settings, complete with upside-down objects. It’s not until she sees an upturned ladybug struggle persistently before getting back on its feet (despite Tilda’s desire to help, the ladybug needs to help itself) that Tilda gains the courage to start taking baby steps in order to cope with her new reality. There are still challenges, and she needs to persevere, but eventually, she regains her zest for life and reconnects with her friends. Despite this, the ending avoids an easy happily-ever-after, which feels just right for the subject matter. Though a trifle didactic, the story sends an important message about the roles of self-efficacy and persistence when it comes to overcoming challenges and building resilience. Percival’s digital illustrations use transitions from grayscale to color to create symbolic meaning and have psychological depth, deftly capturing a child’s experience of trauma.
An accessible entrance into the world of social-emotional skills. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0822-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
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