The best part of this one is also the most inconsistent: the rich and challenging vocabulary.
This tactile board book presents animals, glimpses of their habitats, and associated vocabulary.
In Alexander’s eye-catching book, a series of familiar animals is presented, each in a colorful two-page layout. Each animal is a separate die-cut figure glued into a larger, shaped cutout presented on recto; on verso are its name—formed from die-cut letters that will nestle in the cutout opposite—along with a set of descriptive words, the only text. Nouns are set in boldface, while adjectives are plain text, and participles are italicized. Some flaws niggle. One adjective—“slimy”—sneaks into the frog’s participles. The nouns are mostly visible in the accompanying illustration, but not the cats’ claws. Most spreads also include the word for the various animals’ offspring, with the exception of the bees (“young bee” is presented as a smiling, small foraging adult rather than “larva”—definitely cuter but inaccurate). These oversights are a letdown. The adjectives and participles, however, are wonderfully descriptive, and many could be new for little ones, like “gamboling” cows, “velvety” moles, and “wallowing” pigs. The illustrations themselves are very spare, a startling contrast to the highly specific and detailed text. The simultaneously publishing Food follows the same format, but the illustrations are more unexpected and engaging, like finding the raised letters “y-u-m” in a bowl of alphabet noodles.
The best part of this one is also the most inconsistent: the rich and challenging vocabulary. (Board book. 6 mos-2)Pub Date: April 16, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4521-7392-4
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: April 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2019
Simple, encouraging text, charming photographs, straightforward, unpretentious diversity, and adorable animals—what’s not to...
This entry-level early reader/picture book pairs children with farm animals.
Using a simple, effective template—a full-page photograph on the recto page and a bordered spot photo above the text on the verso—Rotner delivers an amiable picture book that presents racially and ethnically diverse kids interacting (mostly in the cuddling department) with the adult and baby animals typically found on a farm. Chickens, chicks, cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, pigs, piglets, cows, and calves are all represented. While a couple of double-page spreads show the larger adult animals—pigs and cows—without a child, most of the rest portray a delighted child hugging a compliant critter. The text, simple and repetitive, changes only the name for the animal depicted in the photo on that spread: “I like the cat”; “I like the piglet.” In this way, reading comprehension for new readers is supported in an enjoyable, appealing way, since the photo of the animal reinforces the new word. It’s hard to go wrong combining cute kids with adorable animals, but special kudos must be given for the very natural way Rotner has included diversity—it’s especially gratifying to see diversity normalized and validated early, at the same time that reading comprehension is taught.
Simple, encouraging text, charming photographs, straightforward, unpretentious diversity, and adorable animals—what’s not to like? (Picture book/early reader. 2-6)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3833-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2017
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again.
Cece loves asking “why” and “what if.”
Her parents encourage her, as does her science teacher, Ms. Curie (a wink to adult readers). When Cece and her best friend, Isaac, pair up for a science project, they choose zoology, brainstorming questions they might research. They decide to investigate whether dogs eat vegetables, using Cece’s schnauzer, Einstein, and the next day they head to Cece’s lab (inside her treehouse). Wearing white lab coats, the two observe their subject and then offer him different kinds of vegetables, alone and with toppings. Cece is discouraged when Einstein won’t eat them. She complains to her parents, “Maybe I’m not a real scientist after all….Our project was boring.” Just then, Einstein sniffs Cece’s dessert, leading her to try a new way to get Einstein to eat vegetables. Cece learns that “real scientists have fun finding answers too.” Harrison’s clean, bright illustrations add expression and personality to the story. Science report inserts are reminiscent of The Magic Schoolbus books, with less detail. Biracial Cece is a brown, freckled girl with curly hair; her father is white, and her mother has brown skin and long, black hair; Isaac and Ms. Curie both have pale skin and dark hair. While the book doesn’t pack a particularly strong emotional or educational punch, this endearing protagonist earns a place on the children’s STEM shelf.
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 19, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-249960-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
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