Lunch is more delicious when shared with people we love.
Stanley the hamster teaches young readers about different types of food and the joy of sharing.
Stanley and his furry friends—mice, moles, and a chipmunk, among others—go to market to stock up on food. The affable critters browse a variety of goods, snacks, and beverages, and then Stanley treats his brother to a picnic. The lovingly rendered animal characters and bustling market scenes have an undeniable charm. Stanley and his friends have rather European tastes, which isn’t surprising; author/illustrator Bee resides in England. Stanley buys a baguette and a loaf of brown bread, with cheese to go with them. Then he’s off to buy fruits, snacks (potato chips, crackers, and jelly), and some of “Charlie’s homemade scones and muffins,” which, fortunately, “taste better than they look.” Stanley’s final purchases are lemonade and cocoa powder. At home, Stanley makes sandwiches and hot chocolate, puts the lemonade in a thermos, and loads up his lunchbox. Its best feature is that it holds enough for two. Today, Stanley shares lunch with his brother, Herbert, who, amusingly, looks exactly like Stanley, with the addition of a waxed mustache. Culturally, the European market stalls and foods won’t resonate with all children. Similarly, in this time of rising wealth inequality and food insecurity, even the sense of plenty could sting those with fewer choices. Nevertheless, Stanley and his anthropomorphized friends have dignity, good humor, and a solid lesson for children. In companion title Stanley’s Toy Box, Stanley carries the titular container to the park for a day of play with his pals.
Lunch is more delicious when shared with people we love. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: March 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-68263-283-3
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2021
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come.
Little Blue Truck and his pal Toad meet friends old and new on a springtime drive through the country.
This lift-the-flap, interactive entry in the popular Little Blue Truck series lacks the narrative strength and valuable life lessons of the original Little Blue Truck (2008) and its sequel, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (2009). Both of those books, published for preschoolers rather than toddlers, featured rich storylines, dramatic, kinetic illustrations, and simple but valuable life lessons—the folly of taking oneself too seriously, the importance of friends, and the virtue of taking turns, for example. At about half the length and with half as much text as the aforementioned titles, this volume is a much quicker read. Less a story than a vernal celebration, the book depicts a bucolic drive through farmland and encounters with various animals and their young along the way. Beautifully rendered two-page tableaux teem with butterflies, blossoms, and vibrant pastel, springtime colors. Little Blue greets a sheep standing in the door of a barn: “Yoo-hoo, Sheep! / Beep-beep! / What’s new?” Folding back the durable, card-stock flap reveals the barn’s interior and an adorable set of twin lambs. Encounters with a duck and nine ducklings, a cow with a calf, a pig with 10 (!) piglets, a family of bunnies, and a chicken with a freshly hatched chick provide ample opportunity for counting and vocabulary work.
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-544-93809-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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