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DON'T MIX UP MY PUPPY!

Name: DON'T MIX UP MY PUPPY!
Author: Rosamund Lloyd
ISBN: 978-1-66435-052-6

by Rosamund Lloyd ; illustrated by Spencer Wilson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 17, 2023

One doggone cute book!

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Discover some exciting dog tales—or rather, tails—in this interactive board book.

New and future readers will meet a bevy of doggies as they figure out which tail belongs to which canine. The dog on the cover will have to share, as they aren’t given their own. Each clue is presented in a formulaic text block: “Don’t mix up my puppy! Her tail is spotted and dotted.” “Don’t mix up my puppy! His tail is black and velvety.” Readers are then tasked with turning a blue wheel in the upper right-hand corner of the page to find the correct tail—although once you’ve found the first, the others appear in order when the wheel is turned clockwise. The gimmick of the wheel relies on color and texture, with each tail made of furry material. The back of the wheel features images of the dogs, but these doesn’t align with the correct answers. The five internal dogs are identified on the back of the book—a silky terrier, poodle, Irish setter, dachshund, and Dalmatian, but the cover dog (which may be a King Charles spaniel) is never identified. The Irish setter tail makes a good pairing for the cover, however, so each canine looks complete. The book is charming, and the illustrations are delightful. The wheel’s solid construction assures that this one will survive many spins before retirement.

One doggone cute book! (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-66435-052-6

Page Count: 10

Publisher: Tiger Tales

Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
DON'T MIX UP MY DINOSAUR!
by Rosamund Lloyd ; illustrated by Spencer Wilson

- BOOK REVIEW
I WANT TO DRIVE…
by Rosamund Lloyd ; illustrated by Richard Merritt

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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.

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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 AND THE CLASSROOM JITTERS
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

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

- BOOK REVIEW
THE POUT-POUT FISH AND THE MAD, MAD DAY
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

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MERRY CHRISTMAS, LITTLE POOKIE

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 18, 2018

The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer...

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Seven years after Little Pookie (2011) first appeared, this popular piglet is finally celebrating Christmas.

“Oh Pookie! Come look! It’s beginning to snow,” says a maternal-looking pig. But where did Pookie go? Past the Christmas tree, to put on a snowsuit of course. Pookie’s ever cheerful mama is willing to go out too. After all, “It’s a magical time to be walking with you.” When she observes, “Our noses are frozen. It’s time to go in,” Pookie protests in typical toddler style: “But I’m not c-c-c-cold!” The next three pages highlight indoor holiday preparations—making paper garlands, baking and decorating cookies. The rhyming text mirrors the spare illustrations. A spidery type that emulates handwriting makes it clear when Pookie is speaking. Then “the doorbell is ringing. / Our family and friends have arrived for the singing.” The second-to-last spread shows Pookie, mama, and six other pigs—and Boynton’s requisite chicken—singing (“Con brio”), “MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! AND A HAP-PY NEW YEAR!” Conveniently, this text is placed beneath the musical notation. Finally Pookie hangs a stocking and goes off to bed without any fuss, anticipating presents on Christmas morning.

The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer or an ideal Christmas Eve read to share with other little piggies. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)