A “cheesy” episode with a double twist at the end. Younger audiences may need at least part of the joke explained.
In this very simple pop-up book, a rocket ship blasts off from Earth, hums through space, and touches down at last on the moon—with a goopy “BLOOP.”
“The countdown’s begun. My rocket is ready!” Perched atop dramatic red and orange exhaust constructed from long folded strips and die-cut pop-up ladders, the rocket blasts off from green hills, floats against starry backdrops, and spirals its way toward a yellow moon that turns out to be considerably mushier than the dusty rock plain on which the Apollo astronauts walked. Though preceded by a broad earlier hint, a further surprise awaits on the final spread, as the first full view of the rocket’s pilot and the pilot’s waiting mom reveals that the journey was actually a return home. The flat, posterlike art and the medium-height 3-D effects are printed on sturdy stock and, being big enough to be visible across a large room, equally suitable for sharing with one prospective space traveler or a group.
A “cheesy” episode with a double twist at the end. Younger audiences may need at least part of the joke explained. (Pop-up picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0072-2
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2015
A bright, open primer for Escher.
A young child discovers a portal to a whole other plane of perspective in Robinson’s latest.
In the dark of night, a portal opens in a small girl’s bedroom, the light attracting her cat. When the curious feline crawls through to chase another cat that looks just like it (but with a different color collar), the little girl cannot help but follow as well. Through the portal, the world goes topsy-turvy—up is down, right is left, and color and shape capriciously collide as the ever smiling girl and her cat move from plane to plane. The duo eventually happens upon other children, all playing with alternate versions of themselves, and after a few page turns, our protagonist—a girl of color with black, beaded braids—spots her alternate self as well. The pair share a few meaningful moments, exchanging smiles and cat toys, until eventually each returns to her bed with the small promise of further adventures to come. The simple geometry of Robinson’s work comes alive in this expanse of wordless narrative. A fearless use of white space and an utter disregard of conventions of direction encourage readers to engage with the physical book as the story unfolds, touching and turning it as they literally take the narrative into their hands.
A bright, open primer for Escher. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: March 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5344-2167-7
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2019
Readers will be charmed as Harold draws himself in and out of trouble and finally home to bed in this subtle blend of...
Harold takes a walk in the moonlight down the path of imagination and although this time the bunnies hop and the winds blow, nothing of the dreamy simplicity of the journey is lost.
Elegantly adapted by Trilogy Studios to the iPad and featuring the same minimalist lines of Johnson's 1955 original, this app allows children to join in as Harold wields his purple crayon to create his gently perilous adventure. Along the way, the many hidden interactions allow readers to animate the scenes, shaking apples from the tree and making the guard dragon catch them in his mouth. Kids can fill the moonlit sky with stars and zoom in on hatchling birds in the mountains; they can cause a swirling wind to fill the sails of Harold's boat and help him sample all nine flavors of pie. All the while, it maintains the flavor of a simple line-drawn story. When touched, most objects and characters are identified both verbally and in text to add an extra level of learning for early readers. Options include Read to Me, in which each word appears as it is spoken by the narrator; Touch Tale, a fully interactive version prefaced with a clear tutorial; and Read to Myself. All modes are accompanied by tinkly music.
Readers will be charmed as Harold draws himself in and out of trouble and finally home to bed in this subtle blend of animation and story. (iPad storybook app. 2-5)Pub Date: July 30, 2011
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Trill Publishing
Review Posted Online: Sept. 3, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2011
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