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HOW TO HIDE A DINOSAUR

An assortment of easy-to-identify background noises and sound effects add further appeal to this slight but deftly designed...

A toddler-friendly invitation to lead a jolly green dino through a day of sliding, splashing and climbing fun.

“Sometimes dinosaurs like to come out and play. Can you help me hide mine along the way?” Led on by an occasionally rhymed narrative read (optionally) by a never-seen child, cheery Denny pops through a house’s roof with a “hello!” and goes on to skip stones across a pond, lumber up a slide’s ladder, try unsuccessfully to hide behind a truck or tree or other obstacle and so on—until a frothy tooth brushing and a final snuggle into bed. Occasional fish or, in one messy scene, floating spaghetti noodles will also trail behind a moving finger. Though the interactive features are both stiff and confined to one, or one type, per screen (and one screen has none), their simplicity complements the brightly colored cartoon art’s elementary look.

An assortment of easy-to-identify background noises and sound effects add further appeal to this slight but deftly designed delight for diapered dinophiles. (iPad storybook app. 1-3)

Pub Date: Nov. 16, 2011

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Demibooks

Review Posted Online: Dec. 19, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2012

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THE GOING TO BED BOOK

From the Boynton Moo Media series

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Preserving the look of the classic board book—even to the trim size and rounded corners—this makeover folds new into old in such inventive ways that it may take more than a few passes to discover all the interactive features. Aboard a ship that rocks in response to a tilt of the tablet a set of animal passengers bounce belowdecks. First they take a bath featuring user-created bubbles, and then they brush their teeth using water so hot that the whole screen hazes up with wipe-able “steam.” Pajama-clad, all then wobble—or, tweaked by a finger, rocket—back outside for a bit of exercise before bed. (Readers control this part by twirling the moon.) In the finest animation of all, every touch of the night sky in the final scene brings a twinkling star into temporary being. Along with making small movements that resemble paper-engineered popup effects, Boynton’s wide eyed passengers also twitch or squeak (or both) when tapped. And though they don’t seem particularly sleepy or conducive to heavy lids, an optional reading by British singer Billy J. Kramer (whose well-traveled voice also pronounces each word individually at a touch), backed by soothing piano music, supplies an effectively soporific audio. “The day is done. / They say good night, / and somebody / turns off the light.” This is as beautiful as the developer’s earlier PopOut! Peter Rabbitwhile styling itself perfectly to Boynton's whimsy. (Ipad board-book app. 1-3)

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Pub Date: March 7, 2011

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Loud Crow Interactive

Review Posted Online: March 13, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011

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POOKIE'S THANKSGIVING

From the Little Pookie series

Exactly what readers want and expect from the board-book master.

Pookie and family celebrate Thanksgiving.

Boynton’s precocious little pig is back in this holiday installment. The family gets ready for Thanksgiving by baking pies, welcoming Nemmy and Boppa for dinner, and sharing gratitude (and pie!). Boynton’s familiar rhyming text and simple, thick-lined illustrations are exactly what readers have come to expect from this series: Pookie is a little silly, the story bounces along, and the artwork is warm and cozy. Though most of the action takes place inside, the passage of day is clear through the window, from daylight to the setting sun. Decorations and a tree with just a few leaves on it indicate the autumnal season. There are two pages where numbers are called out, presented differently from the rest of the typeface (Pookie and their parents prepare apple pie and one pumpkin pie, and there will be five guests at dinner). The only bolded digits are one and five, even though the text does mention that there will be a total of two pies—a stylistic choice that seems to point readers to counting practice but that feels a bit random. Overall, though, this is a worthy new story about one of Boynton’s most beloved characters. True to form, it’s a toddler-friendly read, providing context for the festivities and a sweet representation of gratitude. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Exactly what readers want and expect from the board-book master. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-66592-263-0

Page Count: 18

Publisher: Boynton Bookworks

Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022

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