In the end, while Cat is cute enough, it’s Dog who has an interesting tale to tell.
A little puppy faces some big challenges while out on a hike with its owner.
On each left-hand page, the little dog finds itself in a variety of outdoorsy binds and, on the facing page, escapes each dangerous or uncomfortable predicament. The text follows this same pattern and captions each page with one pithy line: “Too high / Big scramble // Too deep / Big swim.” When the puppy gets just too worn out to go any further, its owner reaches down to give it a pat and then allows it a “[b]ig rest” before setting out to make it to “the top // Together.” Mosz’s droll paintings in rich colors playfully capture the dog’s responses, but occasional facing-page spreads depict the pup twice, which may confuse little listeners. The sister title, Cat Comes Too, follows a similar format to depicts a kitten’s adventures in the attic with its owner. Here, the layout problems are worse. Separate scenes blur together across the spreads, and the close-ups make it hard to follow the twists and turns of the action. In one scene where the text reads “Too swingy,” it is not at all clear what the kitty is dangling from. While both pets are equally expressive, the mostly double-page spreads of the puppy’s story give the action room to breathe.
In the end, while Cat is cute enough, it’s Dog who has an interesting tale to tell. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-55451-479-3
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Annick Press
Review Posted Online: April 2, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013
A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character.
One of Boynton's signature characters celebrates Halloween.
It's Halloween time, and Pookie the pig is delighted. Mom helps the little porker pick out the perfect Halloween costume, a process that spans the entire board book. Using an abcb rhyme scheme, Boynton dresses Pookie in a series of cheerful costumes, including a dragon, a bunny, and even a caped superhero. Pookie eventually settles on the holiday classic, a ghost, by way of a bedsheet. Boynton sprinkles in amusing asides to her stanzas as Pookie offers costume commentary ("It's itchy"; "It's hot"; "I feel silly"). Little readers will enjoy the notion of transforming themselves with their own Halloween costumes while reading this book, and a few parents may get some ideas as well. Boynton's clean, sharp illustrations are as good as ever. This is Pookie's first holiday title, but readers will surely welcome more.
A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-553-51233-5
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Robin Corey/Random
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
In this board book designed for the littlest llama lovers, adorable-as-ever Llama Llama (Llama Llama Red Pajama, 2005, etc.) gets ready for some Halloween fun.
Dewdney’s characteristic spare, apt rhymes convey a lot of action in effortlessly readable fashion. A charming and simple introduction to Halloween and its associated activities, this title finds little Llama Llama choosing and carving a pumpkin, pouring candy into bowls, picking out a costume and, finally, trick-or-treating. The costume Llama Llama decides to don—pointy teeth and a black mask and cape—is enough to frighten and fool his friends but not readers, who will immediately recognize and smile at the silly little mini-Dracula. With Dewdney’s characters as expressive as ever, young readers will be drawn right into the holiday fun, eagerly anticipating which costume Llama Llama will choose and excited to see him scare his friends and score some candy at trick-or-treat. In the equally appealing companion title, Llama Llama Jingle Bells,the little fellow gets ready for Christmas, baking and decorating some cookies in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. This simple holiday title will win Llama Llama new fans, and old friends will want to add it and its companion to their collections. (Board book. 1-2)
Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2014
ISBN: 978-0451469786
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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