Shared one story at a time, this book offers toddlers a first experience with “chapters.” (Picture book. 2-4)
In six separate sections, different baby African and/or Asian mammals spend an active day in the wild before nestling down to sleep.
The first section, “Tiger Babies Romp,” shows two “tiger babies” who take a short excursion when their mother temporarily leaves their den. Here and throughout, the text is written with short sentences and repetition: “Tiger noses sniff. / Tiger ears twitch, twitch. / Tiger tails swish, swish, swish. / What’s moving?” After seeing a snake, the tiger babies dash to a tree, then splash into a lake, then encounter a crocodile, then “rumble” back to their den. After they “eat, eat, eat” with Mama, the baby tigers are told, “Good night, baby tigers— / you’ve had a busy day.” The length of the book, as well as the amount of text on many pages, appears to be geared toward preschoolers, but the formulaic, repetitive nature of the text—and its labeling of every animal as a baby—suits it best to toddlers. Each separate story concentrates on a specific aspect of the featured animal—for example, the elephant’s trunk and the poor eyesight of rhinos. Pronouns clearly delineate both giraffe and gorilla babies as female—a commendable effort. The animals are mostly realistic though with anthropomorphized smiles, and they are placed against soft backgrounds—the overall look is generally benign, although the black eyes with white highlights have an occasionally creepy look, particularly on the tigers. Brief “animal facts” round out the book.
Shared one story at a time, this book offers toddlers a first experience with “chapters.” (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 24, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8050-9883-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character.
Pookie celebrates Easter with a play date and holiday activities.
Pookie’s friend Bean, a gray puppy, comes over for Easter fun that includes lots of bouncing around and egg decorating. After Bean goes home, Pookie gets excited about the Easter Bunny’s arrival and goes to sleep dreaming of a large chocolate egg. Like the other Pookie books before it, this one is told in rhyme from the perspective of a loving grown-up addressing the little pig, which keeps the pace moving and makes for a great read-aloud. Bean and Pookie are realistically—and endearingly—childlike, from Pookie’s pronunciation of yellow as “lellow!” to the joyful mess they make while decorating eggs. There are plenty of sweet and festive touches, such as the bunny ears that Bean and Pookie (and Pookie’s teddy) wear and the daffodils painted on the end of Pookie’s bed. The illustrations include large, full-page images as well as smaller vignettes against solid backgrounds. One page shows Pookie and parent looking out the window at the moon, anticipating Easter’s spoils. For fans of Boynton and little Pookie, this Easter tale is exactly as expected: a touch of playfulness, a relatable story, and comfort in the familiar. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-66592-838-0
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Boynton Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
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