An endearing introduction to the life of a fox kit.
Throughout the four seasons of the year, a fox kit explores the world outside its den.
The book opens with a woodland scene featuring multiple animals as the first-person narrator poses a question directly to readers: “I am a fox. Do you see me?” It is springtime, and while the other animals are active during the day and night, the little fox prefers to “slink” at dusk and dawn. The story quickly transitions to summer, and readers follow the agile young fox as it hunts, feeds, and sleeps. In the autumn, we see the fox playing with its sister and chasing rabbits. The closing spreads find the winsome creature in its den with its family as they “curl into slumber balls” for the winter. With the verbal motif compared to used all throughout the story, the kit points out how it is dissimilar to other wild creatures. For instance, compared to hummingbirds, who fly near the kit as it speeds across the grass, the kit is slow; but compared to a turtle, the kit is fast. The text features descriptive action verbs: The fox sees lambs who gambol, owls who swoop, and its sister who leaps and pounces. Animals are slightly anthropomorphized (a turtle glares at the kit as it races by, and the kit refers to its mother as “my mama”) but not problematically. Overall, children learn the basics about the habitats, habits, and diet of foxes (though the kit is not shown eating other animals). Rendered in gouache, colored pencil, ink, and digital mixed media, the soft, cozy illustrations are warm and inviting.
An endearing introduction to the life of a fox kit. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 8, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-4521-7459-4
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
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
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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