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OCEAN

Name: OCEAN
Author: Fox & Sheep

ANIMAL ADVENTURES FOR KIDS

developed by Fox & Sheep ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 6, 2014

Less than ankle deep, informationwise, but all the color and movement should keep the Oshkosh set poking away for a while.

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The focus is mainly on fun in three populous underwater scenes, but a few facts float past too.

Viewable in any order and accompanied by tinkling background music, cartoon “Coral Reef,” “Shark Reef” and “Deep Sea” settings present a mix of distinctive and recurring residents. All are depicted in loud colors, and most feature anthropomorphic touches, from smiles and blinking eyes to a natty shrimp’s spinning bow tie and pirate treasure draped about a grimacing great white shark. Many figures drift in and out of view, move or make a sound when tapped; sometimes they respond to repeated taps with silly surprises—like scallop shells that spring open to reveal a mermaid or a cupcake. There is no visible text, but touching an icon at the top of each scene freezes the action and activates audio IDs (available in no fewer than 12 languages) for selected creatures. Some IDs are generic (“Hello, I’m a fish…”), others more precise (“I’m an anglerfish”), and there are occasional disconnects with the pictures: “I’m a crab, and I have 10 legs,” declare two crabs with only eight visible legs each. Likewise, a copperband butterfly fish points out false “eye” spots that are not to be seen in the picture.

Less than ankle deep, informationwise, but all the color and movement should keep the Oshkosh set poking away for a while. (iPad informational app. 2-4)

Pub Date: March 6, 2014

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Fox & Sheep

Review Posted Online: April 8, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2014

- BOOK REVIEW
HAT MONKEY
by Chris Haughton ; illustrated by Chris Haughton ; developed by Fox & Sheep

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S HALLOWEEN

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK MAKES A FRIEND
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S VALENTINE
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

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ANIMAL SHAPES

by Christopher Silas Neal ; illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2018

Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.

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You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!

What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?

Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)