by Alice Beauvisage ; illustrated by Alice Beauvisage ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 9, 2013
For a more successful ode to security objects, stick with Carol Thompson’s Blankies (2013).
A youngster, likely a boy, demonstrates all the fun he can have with his security blanket.
In various “let’s pretend” scenarios, he uses his blanket as a sail for a pirate ship, a tablecloth for a tea party or a cape for his “King of Rollerblading” costume. Each scene is depicted on one page with a simple first-person statement issued by the boy. The art, which looks to be a collage of paper, fabric and pencil drawings, is too small in scale for the trim size of this nearly 6 1/2–inch-square board book. Three unnamed characters—a bear, a rabbit and a penguin who are likely the boy’s favorite stuffed animals—help flesh out the scenes. The boy himself is amateurishly drawn at times, and the blanket, an unappealing yellowish brown with red polka dots, looks stiff and neither soft nor cozy. A couple of the scenes are likely to go over the heads of the intended toddler audience, particularly one in which the blanket is depicted standing (if a blanket can be said to be standing) at the top of an Olympics-style victory podium as the text reads: “My blankie is a Super Blankie!”
For a more successful ode to security objects, stick with Carol Thompson’s Blankies (2013). (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: Aug. 9, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-927018-08-8
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Simply Read
Review Posted Online: July 30, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
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by Sam Williams ; illustrated by Sam Williams ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 6, 2016
Sweet but dull.
Six little animal babies spend the day at Noah’s Park.
A baby dog, bear, cat, panda, pig, and snail in colorful onesies and overalls are planning a day in Noah’s Park. As they all sit or stand in a group looking out at readers, the unrelated text above them says “Explore, swing, dance, and jump….” A gatefold flap—which is always a crowd-pleaser with toddlers—reveals they’ve decided to sail away. They put on their life jackets, pack a snack, and off they go. The sweet-looking, cartoony animals board a pink-and-blue–checkered boat, from which they see ducks and ducklings bobbing to and fro. They take a break, feed the ducks, have their own snack, and sail back home. There really is not much action in the book, as the animals just sit or stand around, in spite of the action indicated at the beginning. Even at the end when the text says, “Let’s clean up and sing a god-bye tune,” they are just standing in the boat looking out at the ducks. Hopefully, real toddlers will have more engaging days than the one depicted in this board book.
Sweet but dull. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-4263-3
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2016
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by Pamela Kennedy ; illustrated by Claire Keay ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 7, 2017
A cute morality tale that may be especially appealing for Christian households.
Little Bunny dabbles in petty larceny.
Little Bunny sees his mother’s purse open on the table. He wants the pennies that are inside. After quickly taking them, Little Bunny continues on, taking a toy from his friend, who’s reading and unaware, and a sweet from the store. It doesn’t take long for his conscience to catch up with him, and Little Bunny tells Mama about his thefts. This board book and the concurrently published Uh-Oh, Bunny tackle the wrongs little ones can do and the measures it takes to correct them. Each board book ends with a Bible verse, specifically from Ephesians: in the case of this book, it’s “If a person is stealing, he must stop stealing,” and for the other it’s “Tell each other the truth.” The book is calmly illustrated, with somber colors and wispy lines. The repetition, Greek chorus–like, of “No, no, Bunny” is a bit unfortunate. Some readers may feel as though they’re punishing the cuddly little one. Adults may choose to articulate the repeated admonishment as “Wait, wait, Bunny,” or “Think, think, Bunny” instead.
A cute morality tale that may be especially appealing for Christian households. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: March 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8249-1651-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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by Charles Dickens & adapted by Pamela Kennedy & illustrated by Carol Heyer
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