bookshelf

THE POOP SONG

Name: THE POOP SONG
Author: Eric Litwin
ISBN: 978-1-4521-7950-6

by Eric Litwin ; illustrated by Claudia Boldt ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 13, 2021

Sure to be music to the ears of potty-training families.

bookshelf

As the title indicates, a song about pooping in the potty.

Best known for writing several of the early Pete the Cat books, Litwin opens this picture book with the lines “CATS poop in their own little box. / MOUNTAIN GOATS poop as they climb over rocks.” Ensuing pages show other animals (and eventually dinosaurs and extraterrestrials) pooping, too, but the book’s main goal seems to be to use humor to inspire human children to do their business on the potty. As the refrain states in part, “But the BIG BOYS and BIG GIRLS are pooping in the potty. / And then we hear a happy sound. // FLUSH!” The text has a rhythmic, rhyming cadence that clearly lends itself to singing while accompanying childlike illustrations of smiling, defecating animals and children of differing skin colors enhance the humor of the text. Children should respond positively to the silly depictions of “SPACE MARTIANS poop[ing] by a faraway star” (space Martian dung is gray, evidently) and a picture of “Mr. Eric” (so indicated by a license plate) exclaiming “A little BLUEBIRD just pooped on my car.” While there’s no sheet music in the book, a note on the jacket flap prompts readers to find a recording of the song at the publisher’s website. Listeners will be treated to an upbeat tune, flushing sound effects, kids’ voices chiming in with Litwin’s, and perhaps just a few fartlike sounds for good measure.

Sure to be music to the ears of potty-training families. (Picture book. 1-3)

Pub Date: April 13, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-4521-7950-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Review Posted Online: March 1, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HEALTH & DAILY LIVING

- BOOK REVIEW
IF YOU'RE GROOVY AND YOU KNOW IT, HUG A FRIEND!
by Eric Litwin ; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

- BOOK REVIEW
DANCE PARTY COUNTDOWN
by Eric Litwin ; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

- BOOK REVIEW
KEEP ROLLING!
by Eric Litwin ; illustrated by Scott Magoon

bookshelf

SMILE, POUT-POUT FISH

by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2014

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.

bookshelf

This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.

Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE AND THE CLASSROOM JITTERS
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
POUT-POUT FISH
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
THE POUT-POUT FISH AND THE MAD, MAD DAY
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

bookshelf

MERRY CHRISTMAS, LITTLE POOKIE

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 18, 2018

The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer...

bookshelf

Seven years after Little Pookie (2011) first appeared, this popular piglet is finally celebrating Christmas.

“Oh Pookie! Come look! It’s beginning to snow,” says a maternal-looking pig. But where did Pookie go? Past the Christmas tree, to put on a snowsuit of course. Pookie’s ever cheerful mama is willing to go out too. After all, “It’s a magical time to be walking with you.” When she observes, “Our noses are frozen. It’s time to go in,” Pookie protests in typical toddler style: “But I’m not c-c-c-cold!” The next three pages highlight indoor holiday preparations—making paper garlands, baking and decorating cookies. The rhyming text mirrors the spare illustrations. A spidery type that emulates handwriting makes it clear when Pookie is speaking. Then “the doorbell is ringing. / Our family and friends have arrived for the singing.” The second-to-last spread shows Pookie, mama, and six other pigs—and Boynton’s requisite chicken—singing (“Con brio”), “MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! AND A HAP-PY NEW YEAR!” Conveniently, this text is placed beneath the musical notation. Finally Pookie hangs a stocking and goes off to bed without any fuss, anticipating presents on Christmas morning.

The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer or an ideal Christmas Eve read to share with other little piggies. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)