The well-paced conventionality of this one makes it a pleasant bedtime read.
Each animal in this board book goes to bed with a lift of a flap.
Wan’s distinct, boldly outlined illustrations show each farm animal going to bed. The animals are tucked in with a simple rhyming couplet (“Off to sleep, / little sheep”), and the turn of the flap shows the animal, eyes closed and blanket pulled up, with their animal sound (“BAA”). The opening spread depicts all of the animals, eyes heavy, the moon and stars with sweet faces shining above them. In the pages that follow, there are darling details found in the background and on the animals’ blankets. There are buzzing dragonflies flying in heart patterns behind the frog, for example, and lily pads on its covers. After they’ve worked out some initial stiffness, little readers will enjoy pulling down the flap that transforms the animal’s face into its sleeping version tucked into bed. This say-goodnight-to-the animals concept has certainly been done before, and while Wan doesn’t usher in a new age of bedtime book, this does work as a well-paced, familiar outing, comforting to little ones and caregivers alike. It’s this familiarity that makes the book a suitable choice for winding down before bed, the ever hopeful line, “Ready to sleep / the whole night through,” echoing loudly in all caregivers’ ears.
The well-paced conventionality of this one makes it a pleasant bedtime read. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-338-33871-3
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
A lovely, simple lift-the-flap book that will stand the test of many a mighty tot.
Little ones learn about bugs.
The world of insects and like small creatures is the focus of this sturdy board book. Each turn of the page gives readers a close view of a particular habitat. The text asks, “Where’s the ladybug?” or “Where’s the snail?” and little ones are encouraged to find the creatures under shaped felt flaps. A caterpillar poses under a leaf with a few bites taken out of it; a bumblebee flies behind a pink tulip. The flaps are made of a reasonably strong material, secured tightly within the book’s pages. Extremely determined readers may figure out a way to pull the flaps out, but most will enjoy flipping them up and over with ease. The last page of the book contains a mirror hidden behind a bush-shaped flap, and readers are asked “And where are you?” The insects smile with big eyes and are composed of large, circular, clean-edged shapes. The color palette is dulled, making the neon flaps pop effectively for little readers. Concurrently publishing companion Where’s the Giraffe? explores the world of jungle animals.
A lovely, simple lift-the-flap book that will stand the test of many a mighty tot. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: March 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9335-0
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
Great for a birthday read and enjoyable all year long.
A little one grabs a pair of shutter shades and gets a major groove on.
"Who loves to party?" The board book kicks off with this question, and each page follows with a different animal enjoying a wild time in increasingly silly ways. Lemurs hang streamers, pheasants wrap presents, and the mole rat wears his party hat. The titular baby makes a grand entrance on the second to last page, answering the original question and taking this party to a whole new level. The rhythmic, internally rhyming lines encourage a thumping beat for little ones to clap or stomp along with. Young readers will delight at all the animals and the funky colors, and adults will snicker at the contemporary quirks of the party. More board books should have parakeets dropping beats and ocelots that rock a lot. Electric colors and busy compositions make for an appropriately frenetic accompaniment.
Great for a birthday read and enjoyable all year long. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: May 5, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2994-8
Page Count: 30
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
