bookshelf

FIRST WORDS

Name: FIRST WORDS
Author: Rob Walker
ISBN: 978-1-910184-74-5

From the Bright Start Right Start series

by Rob Walker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 17, 2015

Bright but small pictures provide many opportunities for vocabulary development when read one-on-one, but don't try to use...

bookshelf

A busy addition to the Bright Start Right Start series.

This little book tries to cover too much. Each page has between eight and 14 small pictures of everyday objects familiar to most toddlers. The first spread is “about me,” and subsequent topics include family, home, outside, fun, food, transportation, animals, bathtime, and finally sleep. The organization is logical, but some of the concepts are too abstract to be defined by just a few pictures. For example, it is not possible to include all possible configurations and ethnic varieties of families in just eight pictures with 13 labels, but it tries, and as a consequence, all the pictures are too small. Other books in the series are more successful. The layout in Farm Animals includes one large picture with three small pictures on the facing page that provide additional information about each animal. In Shapes, a large image is on the left, with four examples of the shape on the right. The most effective spread in Opposites shows just one red car and then a front and back view. Unfortunately the other spreads are much more cluttered, so the concepts are less clear. On the plus side, the series aligns nicely with emergent-literacy principles. In addition to the labeled pictures, questions to encourage parent-child interaction are on every page.

Bright but small pictures provide many opportunities for vocabulary development when read one-on-one, but don't try to use this in a group setting. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-910184-74-5

Page Count: 20

Publisher: Sterling

Review Posted Online: April 14, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
FIRST NUMBERS
by Rob Walker ; illustrated by Rob Walker

bookshelf

SMILE, POUT-POUT FISH

by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2014

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.

bookshelf

This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.

Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE MADE 32 MISTAKES
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE AND THE CLASSROOM JITTERS
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
POUT-POUT FISH
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

bookshelf

LLAMA LLAMA SHAPES

From the Learning With Llama Llama series

developed by Anna Dewdney ; illustrated by JT Morrow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 7, 2023

An invitation for readers to learn through observation.

bookshelf

Llama Llama and Mama spot different shapes at the farmers market.

Dewdney’s iconic llama stars in this board book, a part of the Learning With Llama Llama series. The story showcases five shapes: rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, and stars. Rather than simply showing the shapes and naming them, illustrator Morrow embeds them inside scenes from the farmers market. Each page turn uncovers a different shape. Signage and a shopping bag pop as rectangles, while umbrellas, a slice of watermelon, and the peaks of the tents form triangles. Shapes that appeared on previous pages are visible even as the story progresses, and the final page helps readers revisit and recall shapes they’ve already found. There are plenty of engaging details to keep readers looking, including other animal shoppers, kite-flying, and sudden, surprising rain. The text is concise, and each spread features a simple question inviting participation. This title is more captivating than other shape concept books, especially those that show block-colored shapes without context. Llama Llama’s popularity will make this a hit with fans, and readers looking for substance will find it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An invitation for readers to learn through observation. (Board book. 1-3)