A cheerful addition to the holiday bookshelf that might even last longer than the Halloween candy.
Little ones learn about Halloween traditions—costumes, tricks, and treats—in this un-scary board book.
This entry in Hall’s Little Holiday Books follows the same cast of racially diverse children wearing costumes fashioned from footie pajamas on a not-too-scary Halloween hunt for treats. Their costumes are not elaborate: hoods for Little Pumpkin and Little Franken, a cape for Little Bat, a hood and sheet for the child dressed as a ghost. Little Pumpkin starts out alone but quickly finds Little Franken behind the curtains. As each trick-or-treater is discovered, Little Pumpkin declares “Good trick.” These toddlers act like actual toddlers, climbing the stairs on all fours and cheerfully tumbling over one another. The black kitten on each spread and treat bags decorated to match each child’s costume are details that will help young readers focus on the slight story. As in Little Darling’s Book of Love (2019), the text is sometimes cloyingly cutesy. Curtains are described as “swishy, swooshy”; a door is “spooky-wooky.” These minor missteps will be forgotten when the final page turn reveals “Halloween treats galore.” (Curiously, candy canes feature prominently amid the Halloween candy.)
A cheerful addition to the holiday bookshelf that might even last longer than the Halloween candy. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-910716-67-0
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Boxer Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 25, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2019
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
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Little Blue Truck keeps on truckin’—but not without some backfires.
Little Blue Truck feels, well, blue when he delivers valentine after valentine but receives nary a one.
His bed overflowing with cards, Blue sets out to deliver a yellow card with purple polka dots and a shiny purple heart to Hen, one with a shiny fuchsia heart to Pig, a big, shiny, red heart-shaped card to Horse, and so on. With each delivery there is an exchange of Beeps from Blue and the appropriate animal sounds from his friends, Blue’s Beeps always set in blue and the animal’s vocalization in a color that matches the card it receives. But as Blue heads home, his deliveries complete, his headlight eyes are sad and his front bumper droops ever so slightly. Blue is therefore surprised (but readers may not be) when he pulls into his garage to be greeted by all his friends with a shiny blue valentine just for him. In this, Blue’s seventh outing, it’s not just the sturdy protagonist that seems to be wilting. Schertle’s verse, usually reliable, stumbles more than once; stanzas such as “But Valentine’s Day / didn’t seem much fun / when he didn’t get cards / from anyone” will cause hitches during read-alouds. The illustrations, done by Joseph in the style of original series collaborator Jill McElmurry, are pleasant enough, but his compositions often feel stiff and forced.
Little Blue Truck keeps on truckin’—but not without some backfires. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-358-27244-1
Page Count: 20
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
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