Familiar territory, though mother-child love never really gets too tired.
In this lift-the-flap board book, singsong-y rhyming text describes just how much three chicks adore Mommy.
Why do the little ones love Mommy so? This doting mother checks on her chicks when they make a “Pío!” in the night. She’s patient with her babies and cuddles with them. To show just how much they love her, the chicks surprise her with a handmade card, a bouquet of flowers, and a stack of pancakes. The celebration of mother-child love makes this a sweet read for Mother’s Day even though the holiday isn’t specifically mentioned. The three chicks are distinctive: One is bespectacled, another wears a sailor hat, and the third sports a pink bow. The backgrounds of all of the images feature soft colored circles and plenty of hearts. The chicks conspiratorially shush readers as they prepare their surprises for Mommy, and their pride, hope, and love are readily apparent. The best use of the flaps is the one that serves as the hen’s wing as she snuggles up with her little ones. The theme of parent-child love can be seen in many similar board books, but while there isn’t anything novel here, it’s still sweet. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Familiar territory, though mother-child love never really gets too tired. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-954689-03-9
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Take it, or leave it.
A wintertime story that can be sung to the tune of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
The itsy bitsy snowman and his friends are playing in the snow. They climb up a snowy hill, jump on a sled, slide fast, and zip past children skating on ice. Then, though the text tells readers that he “dodged a snowball fight,” his head becomes separated from his body. Not to worry, “out came his friends / to lend a happy hand.” In the last spread the itsy bitsy snowman stands with his mom, dad, and friends, “And everything was perfect / in his winter wonderland.” The story, intended to be read to the tune of the beloved nursery rhyme, doesn’t always quite fit the template, as in: “The itsy bitsy snowman / climbed up the snowy hill. // He jumped on a sled / and slid fast…what a thrill!” For no obvious reason, on every page one word is printed in a different color from the rest of the text. Rescek’s illustrations are bright, cheery, and cartoonlike, with an appropriate wintry pale blue as the dominant color. Though sweet and cute, there is nothing particularly fresh or new here.
Take it, or leave it. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4814-4837-6
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Sure to encourage toddlers to smile.
Die-cut, wide-open crying mouths build up to a happy surprise at the end.
This whimsical board book aims to bring a smile to the face of a crying child. Starting with the cover, readers see a brightly colored purple mouse on a white background; its mouth is wide open, crying. On each successive right-hand page readers will encounter more crying creatures: a kitten, a rabbit, a monkey, a pig, a bear, and two children (perhaps a girl and a boy). Each one of them is brightly colored and boldly outlined in black, on a white background. The page at the back of the sequence of die-cut mouths is red, lending a dramatic effect to the wide-open mouths. The trick here lies in the perspective. Each successive creature looks closer, occupying more of the page, and the mouths growing larger, until the last face occupies the entire page. Meanwhile, each left-hand page has some consoling sentence: “Oh, little kitten, don’t cry!” “Little pig, come have a hug!” But more importantly, each statement is set on a solid color: purple, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Yes! The colors of the rainbow. When readers turn the page on the last crying mouth, they will find the colors and the layered die cuts make a rainbow!
Sure to encourage toddlers to smile. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-988-8341-04-7
Page Count: 18
Publisher: minedition
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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