Still, adults looking for a read-aloud snuggle could do worse than this softly worded examination of love and the words we...
Adult animals shower love on their little ones.
This board book is all about love, specifically the love caregivers have for their children. In second-person text that uses an abcb rhyme scheme, little readers are given praise and colorful nicknames. “Doodlebug,” “sweetheart,” “sugar plum,” “champ,” and more are on offer. The book encourages cuddling and ends with a call for a big bear hug. The gently stylized figures and muted color scheme make this board book stand out visually, but beyond this superficial difference there is little that truly grabs the attention from others on the shelf. The foxes, rabbits, bears, and monkeys are all suitably adorable and will probably entertain young readers that have just begun to sit still for read-alouds. The compositions are sometimes overbusy and the visual metaphors strained. As an adult owl calls its baby a “yummy little cupcake,” the baby appears with pink feathers, green wings, and a leafy topknot, for all the world like a small flying strawberry hovering over a pastry—a picture that may be quite difficult for little ones to decode.
Still, adults looking for a read-aloud snuggle could do worse than this softly worded examination of love and the words we use to express it. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-68010-519-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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