A rhythmic seasonal read-aloud with rich, detailed illustrations.
An anthropomorphic dog and his animal friends tend pumpkins from seed to table.
It’s spring on the farm, and a border collie dons boots and gloves to dig the garden and sow pumpkin seeds. As the story progresses and the dog works the pumpkin patch, would-be plant and seed eaters, like a crow, rabbit, and goat, instead take part in garden care. While Halloween isn’t mentioned by name, the animal group (which also includes a mouse and goose) carves jack-o’-lanterns after baking and eating some pumpkin pies. Wolff’s illustrations include lovely, subtle details. The spring buds on a nearby tree blossom into a deeper pink with the turn of a page, contrasting poignantly with a surprise flurry. Empty seed packets are placed on stakes in the garden to denote the different cultivars, autumn arrives with a fall of berries from the once-blossoming tree, and the warm glow of sunset signals both a job well done and a book near its end. The mouse that graces the cover is cleverly hidden throughout the story, not always obvious but always present. These illustrative grace notes make for an enjoyable reread. The rhyming text follows a predictable pattern and cadence, which hits just right for little listeners and for an effective read-aloud. Readers will delight in the animals’ proud smiles as the book meets a satisfying end. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A rhythmic seasonal read-aloud with rich, detailed illustrations. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: July 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4814-1934-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own...
The sturdy Little Blue Truck is back for his third adventure, this time delivering Christmas trees to his band of animal pals.
The truck is decked out for the season with a Christmas wreath that suggests a nose between headlights acting as eyeballs. Little Blue loads up with trees at Toad’s Trees, where five trees are marked with numbered tags. These five trees are counted and arithmetically manipulated in various ways throughout the rhyming story as they are dropped off one by one to Little Blue’s friends. The final tree is reserved for the truck’s own use at his garage home, where he is welcomed back by the tree salestoad in a neatly circular fashion. The last tree is already decorated, and Little Blue gets a surprise along with readers, as tiny lights embedded in the illustrations sparkle for a few seconds when the last page is turned. Though it’s a gimmick, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it fits with the retro atmosphere of the snowy country scenes. The short, rhyming text is accented with colored highlights, red for the animal sounds and bright green for the numerical words in the Christmas-tree countdown.
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own tree that will put a twinkle in a toddler’s eyes. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-544-32041-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
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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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