Matzah lovers rejoice—this one’s for you! (Board book. 1-4)
Eating matzah is a delicious Passover tradition for one happy kid.
In this ode to the unleavened foodstuff, a young preschooler noshes on the Passover specialty throughout the day in various yummy iterations, whether it’s crumbled in yogurt, spread with jam, or alongside fish and carrots. Confined to a child’s snug domestic world, all the action takes place within the home, and the simply rendered kitchen, dining-room, and bedroom scenes place all the focus on the curly-haired child’s smiling face as yet another meal with the familiar, favorite food approaches. The book ends humorously with the family giggling at baby brother, who is wearing, not eating his treat, and a wish for readers to have a “Happy Passover!” Joyful illustrations are flat and bright, and there are little touches of Judaica sprinkled throughout that will make Jewish children feel seen: a Star of David mobile, a kippah-topped teddy bear, and a cheery “Got Matzah?” bib. Relayed in sprightly rhyming couplets, the text emphasizes the many tasty treats and the use of special Passover servingware, highlighting the terminal word in each rhyme, a device that will boost emergent literacy. It seems odd that the Seder isn’t mentioned at all, but otherwise this speaks well to the routines and rituals that many children hold so dear.
Matzah lovers rejoice—this one’s for you! (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5415-5727-7
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2020
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
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Little Blue Truck keeps on truckin’—but not without some backfires.
Little Blue Truck feels, well, blue when he delivers valentine after valentine but receives nary a one.
His bed overflowing with cards, Blue sets out to deliver a yellow card with purple polka dots and a shiny purple heart to Hen, one with a shiny fuchsia heart to Pig, a big, shiny, red heart-shaped card to Horse, and so on. With each delivery there is an exchange of Beeps from Blue and the appropriate animal sounds from his friends, Blue’s Beeps always set in blue and the animal’s vocalization in a color that matches the card it receives. But as Blue heads home, his deliveries complete, his headlight eyes are sad and his front bumper droops ever so slightly. Blue is therefore surprised (but readers may not be) when he pulls into his garage to be greeted by all his friends with a shiny blue valentine just for him. In this, Blue’s seventh outing, it’s not just the sturdy protagonist that seems to be wilting. Schertle’s verse, usually reliable, stumbles more than once; stanzas such as “But Valentine’s Day / didn’t seem much fun / when he didn’t get cards / from anyone” will cause hitches during read-alouds. The illustrations, done by Joseph in the style of original series collaborator Jill McElmurry, are pleasant enough, but his compositions often feel stiff and forced.
Little Blue Truck keeps on truckin’—but not without some backfires. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-358-27244-1
Page Count: 20
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
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