Good manners travel well in this board book for preschool linguists.
A brief, age-appropriate introduction to eight common world languages for toddler travelers.
Following the formula established in How Hippo Says Hello and How Gator Says Good-Bye (both 2014), Samoun tackles manners with a nondidactic and international flair. Without scolding, this book and its companion title, How Tiger Says Thank You, demonstrate courtesies common to cultures all over the world. The same eight countries (France, Russia, Egypt, India, China, Japan, Argentina, and the United States) are included in each book. A phonetic pronunciation guide is provided below each word, though sometimes the transliteration is as puzzling as the actual spelling. (Readers may find themselves wondering how to pronounce “ZHA” or “TCH.”) Smiling cartoon animals show the influence of the illustrator's prior experience as a designer for Carter's baby clothes and International Greetings. Background illustrations in muted hues hint at the flavor of each country while keeping readers focused on the words in speech bubbles. Tourist sites are not identified, though well-traveled adults may recognize many of the locations (the Hermitage in Russia, Mount Fuji in Japan, the pyramids in Egypt). The travel map on the last spread is identical in each book; perhaps the animals are traveling together.
Good manners travel well in this board book for preschool linguists. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: May 5, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4549-1496-9
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery.
A troop of cats traverse a spooky landscape as they make their way to a party hosted by ghosts.
Each double-page spread shows the felines’ encounters with the likes of an owl, jack-o’-lanterns or a bat. One or two of these creepy meetings may be too abstract for the youngest readers, as the cats hear eerie noises with no discernible source on the page. The text, which consists of one rhyming couplet per scene, mostly scans despite a couple of wobbles: “Five black cats get a bit of a scare / As the flip-flapping wings of a bat fill the air.” The sleek, slightly retro art, likely created using a computer, depicts the cats cavorting at night through a shadowy cityscape, the countryside and a haunted house; they may scare some toddlers and delight others. A brighter color palette would have given the project a friendlier, more universal appeal. Luckily, the well-lit, final party scene provides a playful conclusion.
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-58925-611-8
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
A satisfying friendship story to share with very young children in the days leading up to Halloween.
This board book twists the traditional “Teeny Tiny” tale into a less-scary Halloween treat.
This version uses a singsong-y rhythm and cadence to tell the story. “In the teeny tiny barn / Of a teeny tiny house... / Lived a teeny tiny ghost / and a teeny tiny mouse.” Of course the ghost (being teeny tiny) is not very frightening. “But the determined little ghost / Let her mighty courage through / And with a teeny tiny breath / She said a teeny tiny: boo.” Spoiler alert: After just seven page turns the ghost and mouse become friends: “And now the teeny tinies play / In the teeny tiny house. / Just a teeny tiny ghost / And her best friend, mouse.” Pumpkins decorate the cover and final spread and illustrations throughout are in autumnal hues. The fairly high-for-the-format word count—19 to 21 words per page—may be more than toddlers will sit still for, but the “teeny tiny” repetition and rhymes will help. The size (just 6 inches square) makes using the book with a group a challenge, but with a lap-sitting child, it’ll be a pleasure.
A satisfying friendship story to share with very young children in the days leading up to Halloween. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 30, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-31848-7
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: April 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
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