by Kathi Appelt & illustrated by Fumi Kosaka ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2001
A dip in the tub is cause for celebration in this effervescent addition to the Harper Growing Tree series. With the companionship of a toy duck and frog, a gleefully dirty tot frolics about in the bath. Amid the froth of bubbles and fun, the child emerges squeaky-clean and, after a brisk towel dry, is ready to be trundled off to bed for a good night’s sleep. Appelt’s (Rain Dance, p. 654, etc.) cheery rhymes capture all the magic of tub time for toddlers: wacky shampoo hairdos, oodles of bubbles, and more. Playful verses deftly express the universal delight all children have in splashing about. An abundance of nonsense words combined with the exuberant rhymes make for rib-tickling read-aloud sessions. “Bubbles, bubbles in the tubbles, / splish, splash, splooshy scrubbles. / Glimmer, glitter through the air. / Bubbles, bubbles everywhere.” Kosaka’s (Let’s Count the Raindrops, p. 662, etc.) illustrations are ideal for young readers; the simple layout of the full-bleed spreads feature large-scale pictures of the tot merrily washing up. The subtle humor of the illustrations, conveyed through the animated expressions of the child’s toys, mirrors the jaunty tenor of the verses. Jolly fun for little ones. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-694-01458-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2001
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by Rachel Isadora ; illustrated by Rachel Isadora ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2017
If Black Lives Matter, they deserve more specificity than this.
A lushly illustrated picture book with a troubling message.
Little Lala walks with her father after his successful day of fishing. When Mama calls her home for bed, a host of “good night”s delays her: to the bird, the monkey, and even the rock. As Lala wanders through her village in the darkening twilight, readers appreciate its expansive beauty and Lala’s simple joys. Although it’s been artfully written and richly illustrated by an award-winning author of many multicultural stories, this book has problems that overshadow its beauty. “African veld” sets the story in southern Africa, but its vague locale encourages Americans to think that distinctions among African countries don’t matter. Lala wears braids or locks that stick straight up, recalling the 19th-century pickaninny, and her inconsistent skin color ranges from deep ebony like her father’s to light brown. Shadows may cause some of these differences, but if it weren’t for her identifiable hair, readers might wonder if the same child wanders from page to page. Perhaps most striking of all is Lala’s bedtime story: not an African tale but an American classic. While this might evoke nostalgia in some readers, it also suggests that southern Africa has no comparably great bedtime books for Lala, perhaps in part because American children’s literature dominates the world market.
If Black Lives Matter, they deserve more specificity than this. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-399-17384-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016
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by Rachel Isadora ; illustrated by Rachel Isadora
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by Rachel Isadora ; illustrated by Rachel Isadora
illustrated by Georgie Birkett ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 1, 2010
A cheery little girl and her dad plan a shopping trip, go to the grocery store (by bike), purchase ingredients and go home to make pizza for the whole family (a biracial one, in a nice touch). An enthusiastic running commentary narrates the activities, which all go smoothly and safely, with just a bit of mess. Birkett’s bright, line-and-color illustrations focus on the child and her contributions, evoking Aliki in line and mood. The narration, which seems to include both the child and her father’s dialogue without distinction, may confuse some readers slightly, but its rapid-fire enthusiasm is appealing. This entry in the Helping Hands series is joined by Clean It! (ISBN: 978-1-84643-283-6), Fix It! (ISBN: 978-1-84643-286-6) and Grow It! (ISBN: 978-1-84643-285-9). All have a thinner-than-usual page stock that suits them, appropriately, to toddlers. (Board book. 2-4)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-84643-284-2
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Child's Play
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2010
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