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
In this board book designed for the littlest llama lovers, adorable-as-ever Llama Llama (Llama Llama Red Pajama, 2005, etc.) gets ready for some Halloween fun.
Dewdney’s characteristic spare, apt rhymes convey a lot of action in effortlessly readable fashion. A charming and simple introduction to Halloween and its associated activities, this title finds little Llama Llama choosing and carving a pumpkin, pouring candy into bowls, picking out a costume and, finally, trick-or-treating. The costume Llama Llama decides to don—pointy teeth and a black mask and cape—is enough to frighten and fool his friends but not readers, who will immediately recognize and smile at the silly little mini-Dracula. With Dewdney’s characters as expressive as ever, young readers will be drawn right into the holiday fun, eagerly anticipating which costume Llama Llama will choose and excited to see him scare his friends and score some candy at trick-or-treat. In the equally appealing companion title, Llama Llama Jingle Bells,the little fellow gets ready for Christmas, baking and decorating some cookies in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. This simple holiday title will win Llama Llama new fans, and old friends will want to add it and its companion to their collections. (Board book. 1-2)
Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2014
ISBN: 978-0451469786
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Light, friendly, and not at all preachy—a gentle win for a kinder world.
Rhyming couplets use the alphabet to simply explain the abstract concept of kindness.
Each letter of the alphabet stands for a word that adds nuance to the notion while line drawings of pink-cheeked stuffed animals—bear, bunny, elephant, mouse, lion, and giraffe—illustrate the behavior. The verses hint at exactly how to act kindly. Some are concrete: “Ii is for inviting everyone to play.” Some suggest attitudes that facilitate kindness. For example, “Bb is for believing things will be okay in the end!” and “Hh is for hope—tomorrow’s another day!” While many might take issue with the simplistic assertion that “Ee is for everyone—we are all the same,” taken as a whole, the book will lead even the youngest toddlers to the message. Organizationally, the book devotes one page each to 11 letters while 14 others share pages. “Zz is sleeping peacefully when your day of kindness is through” sprawls across a final double-page spread, showing all the animals fast asleep. Creating an ABC book is harder than this makes it look. The true test is what is chosen to represent Q, X, Y, and Z. “Quiet times,” “Yes I can,” and the aforementioned “zzz”s ably rise to the challenge. “Xx is for kisses” is a bit of a stretch but understandable. Pastel backgrounds, uncluttered design, and unforced rhymes keep the focus on the concept.
Light, friendly, and not at all preachy—a gentle win for a kinder world. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Dec. 24, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-593-12307-2
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Rodale Kids
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
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