Another design success for Jaramillo and the lucky babies who are given this book.
In this bilingual version of a traditional Mexican counting song, an ever growing herd of elefantitos plays on a spider’s web.
It works out better than one might think, at least at first. “One / little elephant / balanced oh so elegant / right on the web of a spider…” begins the rhyming text on verso, while on recto a smiling gray elephant improbably balances on a line of spider silk strung across the page. A big, blue numeral 1 floats in the air next to it, while below is printed the refrain: “Along came a friend, from around the bend / and the elephant called to invite her.” A blue-and-white–striped pull-tab allows readers to cock the elephant’s head at the yet-unseen elephant on its way. It all goes well from one through five, but that sixth elephant results in a snapped line, a startled-looking spider, and a spread-spanning green “Ooooops!” As with Jaramillo’s earlier Los Pollitos / Little Chickies (2016), the book is constructed concertina-fashion, with the same illustrations but the original, Spanish text on the other side: “Un elefante / se balanceaba / sobra la tela / de una araña… // Como veía, que resistía, / fue a llamar a otro elefante.” The pull-tabs all work smoothly, and the numerals and pull-tab stripes change color along the spectrum as the book proceeds.
Another design success for Jaramillo and the lucky babies who are given this book. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Nov. 27, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-9969959-1-7
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Encantos
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead.
An Easter-themed board-book parody of the traditional nursery rhyme.
Unfortunately, this effort is just as sugary and uninspired as The Itsy Bitsy Snowman, offered by the same pair in 2015. A cheerful white bunny hops through a pastel world to distribute candy and treats for Easter but spills his baskets. A hedgehog, fox, mouse, and various birds come to the bunny’s rescue, retrieving the candy, helping to devise a distribution plan, and hiding the eggs. Then magically, they all fly off in a hot air balloon as the little animals in the village emerge to find the treats. Without any apparent purpose, the type changes color to highlight some words. For very young children every word is new, so highlighting “tiny tail” or “friends” makes no sense. Although the text is meant to be sung, the words don't quite fit the rhythm of the original song. Moreover, there are not clear motions to accompany the text; without the fingerplay movements, this book has none of the satisfying verve of the traditional version.
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-5621-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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