A simple springtime story that will have toddlers hopping with excitement.
A group of toy animals board the Playtime Express train to Bunnyville.
When a toy dinosaur, bear, lion, and unicorn ride the train through a tunnel, they come to life on the other side. It’s spring in Bunnyville, and the animals are excited to experience it. They meet the Easter Bunny and assist with an egg hunt. They enjoy lots of muddy play in the garden, splash in puddles during a rain shower, and help decorate eggs and hand out Easter baskets. At the end of their busy day, the animals board the train back to a child’s playroom, becoming toys once again. The rhyming text bounces along as easily as the many rabbits in Bunnyville, making this a fitting read-aloud. Zivoin’s illustrations are brightly colored, child-friendly, and brimming with sweetness; an especially endearing one depicts a line of ducklings in rain boots with umbrellas joyfully splashing through spring raindrops. The visuals include plenty of adorable details, like the dinosaur clutching its very own stuffed dino or the Easter Bunny hiding among stuffed animals in the child’s room. The uncomplicated storytelling and appealing pictures make for a worthwhile read.
A simple springtime story that will have toddlers hopping with excitement. (Picture book. 1-3)Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781464234750
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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
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The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer...
Seven years after Little Pookie (2011) first appeared, this popular piglet is finally celebrating Christmas.
“Oh Pookie! Come look! It’s beginning to snow,” says a maternal-looking pig. But where did Pookie go? Past the Christmas tree, to put on a snowsuit of course. Pookie’s ever cheerful mama is willing to go out too. After all, “It’s a magical time to be walking with you.” When she observes, “Our noses are frozen. It’s time to go in,” Pookie protests in typical toddler style: “But I’m not c-c-c-cold!” The next three pages highlight indoor holiday preparations—making paper garlands, baking and decorating cookies. The rhyming text mirrors the spare illustrations. A spidery type that emulates handwriting makes it clear when Pookie is speaking. Then “the doorbell is ringing. / Our family and friends have arrived for the singing.” The second-to-last spread shows Pookie, mama, and six other pigs—and Boynton’s requisite chicken—singing (“Con brio”), “MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! AND A HAP-PY NEW YEAR!” Conveniently, this text is placed beneath the musical notation. Finally Pookie hangs a stocking and goes off to bed without any fuss, anticipating presents on Christmas morning.
The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer or an ideal Christmas Eve read to share with other little piggies. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-3724-1
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
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