Farmyard industry becomes a bedtime soporific. (Picture book. 2-6)
Through creative tweaking, a familiar nursery rhyme, “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,” returns as a cadenced lesson in farmyard enterprise as well as a comforting bedtime lullaby.
A farm boy asks, “Baa, baa, black sheep! Have you any wool?” The sheep predictably replies, “Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full.” Will the wool make a blanket for his bed? “Yes sir, yes, sir,” the black sheep assures him. The boy queries, “Honk, honk, gray goose! Have you any down?” and the goose responds, “Yes, sir, yes, sir, half a pound.” Will the down make a pillow for his head? Of course. Progressing through the farmyard, the boy asks the red hen for eggs to make bread, the yellow bee for honey for a spread and the brown cow for milk to drink before bed. After eating bread with honey and drinking the milk, the boy falls asleep with the wool blanket and down pillow while his farmyard friends dream of more “flowers to sip” and “grass to chew.” Primitive, folksy, multi-hued illustrations expand the pleasantly repetitive, rhyming text by showing the sheep knitting a blanket, the goose flapping feathers for a pillow, the red hen using eggs to make bread, the bee spreading honey on bread and the cow watching the boy drink her milk.
Farmyard industry becomes a bedtime soporific. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: July 28, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-375-86744-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2011
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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