A jack-of-all-trades and a master of none.
A lift-the-flap, press-the-button, sign-the-word novelty board book.
On the first page readers will find the image of a baby on a flap. Lifting a flap, they will see a picture of another baby, and on the verso of the flap they will find instructions on how to say “baby” in sign language. If they match the image with one of the buttons on the right-hand side of the book and press the button, they will hear the word “baby.” Readers are then instructed to say the word “baby.” In this fashion, 10 different words are presented: baby, ball, banana, bath, car, cat, dog, hat, milk, and shoes. The final double-page spread introduces 15 additional words with flaps but no buttons to match. Babies will find the flaps difficult to lift, and there’s no big reward after they have, as all they will find is a variation on the object in question, such as a baby wearing a hat under the photo of the hat or a kitten tangled in yarn under the photo of the unencumbered kitten. And there are so many things to do! Lift the flap, sign the word, match the image with the button, hear the word, and say the word. It is very hard to see what the book is trying to accomplish or what audience it is trying to reach.
A jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-90303-5
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Oct. 13, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An invitation for readers to learn through observation.
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)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-46509-7
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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