Doggy devotees will enjoy this tale of a pooch finding the silver lining in a seemingly dire situation.
Will Emma survive the dreaded cone?
When Emma, a fluffy poodle, leaves the vet with her human, there’s a funny, clear lampshade around her neck. At first, she assumes she’s just caught in something (like that unfortunate incident with the lawn chair). But this time she can’t get the offending object off. Emma tries “to wreck it (she was the best at wrecking).” But the cone stays on. Her human tells her that the cone is “for her own good”…but it gets in the way when she tries to walk or dig. Emma sulks. Then she realizes that playing catch is far easier this way—the cone can hold all the balls her owner tosses. She finds a new way to dig, and the cone acts as a helmet when she tumbles down the stairs. The cone isn’t so bad…but she still has one problem: Keith, a cheeky squirrel who loves to tease her. Emma wishes she could give him a good scare. Turns out with a little patience, some snow, and, of course, her cone, she can do just that! Howden and Mok team up for a companion to their Cone Cat (2020) to show how a canine companion might deal with a cone. Emma’s personality comes through in Howden’s simple, tongue-in-cheek text and in Mok’s hilarious cartoon illustrations. Emma’s pale-skinned human is never named, but the two obviously care for each other. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Doggy devotees will enjoy this tale of a pooch finding the silver lining in a seemingly dire situation. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9781771475143
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.
You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!
What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0534-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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