This simple yet skillful rhyming book is the cat’s meow.
A jaunty kitty parades through her seaside town, greeting friends and neighbors until she locates one special pal.
“A cat. / A cat. // A big, round cat. // Have you ever seen / a cat like that?” Anchored by an infectious and eminently chantable refrain, this succinct rhyming story is an ideal toddler read-aloud. A minimal plot follows a regal black-and-white feline as she ambles through the day, visiting a fire station, a bustling downtown, the fishing docks, and finally the school, where she waits for her light-skinned young owner. The text’s pacing is smooth, and the rhymes never feel forced. Tidy, full-bleed digital illustrations use light and shadow deftly, and the canvaslike texture gives the art a timeless feel. A light, beachy palette captures the town’s seashore vibes. Varied perspectives keep the pages feeling fresh, including spreads at cat’s-eye level or scenes showing the streets from above, along with a dotted-line map of the feline’s wanderings. These images contrast beautifully with close-ups that highlight the cat’s expressions as she bats a butterfly or smacks her wee kitty tongue. The ending feels a bit abrupt—after so much waiting, readers might wish to see more of the happy reunion between cat and child—but that’s a minor quibble. The town is filled with diverse residents.
This simple yet skillful rhyming book is the cat’s meow. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781682635230
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Margaret Quinlin Books/Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2024
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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Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.
You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!
What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0534-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
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