developed by Angus Lee ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 7, 2013
Touch screens will definitely need a wiping off in the wake of this serene and wordless but seldom dull sea voyage.
As Pachelbel’s Canon in D tinkles in the background, the rotund, titular bumblebee and “boyCat,” a smaller feline sidekick, ride a tandem bike down to the dock, board a ship and steam off for encounters with Nessie (in a fetching tartan tam), an inquisitive whale, and also fish, birds, a treasure chest and a number of other small surprises. All are hidden behind rows of nearly transparent tiles that disappear with a touch. Though in some scenes the ship just glides past with minimal interaction, usually most of the very simply drawn figures will also twitch, hop, squeak, flash into view or (in the case of the ship’s captain) salute when tapped. The cruise ends on a sunny tropical beach, with Big Bee and boyCat lounging on blankets. There is no “home” button nor any way to turn off the music, but arrows on each screen allow viewers to page back and forth easily enough. Smooth sailing, with rewards aplenty for tap-happy younger travelers. (iPad storybook app. 2-3)
Pub Date: March 7, 2013
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Angus Lee
Review Posted Online: March 31, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013
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by Joyce Wan ; illustrated by Joyce Wan ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 28, 2016
While this is not an essential purchase, most little pumpkins will love being told, “Baby, I'm batty for you!” (Board book....
Young children won't understand the metaphors but will appreciate the sentiment made clear by the repeated, Halloween-themed declarations of love in Wan's latest board book.
Each of the seven spreads presents an endearment illustrated by an object drawn with heavy outlines and just enough detail to invoke its essential characteristics. Lest it become too maudlin, between the “sugary, sweet candy corn” and a “purr-fect, cuddly kitty” is a “wild, messy monster.” Wan manages to make each drawing expressive and distinctive while relying on just a few shapes—crescents or circles for eyes, dots or ovals accenting cheeks. Although each spread stands alone, there are quiet connections. For example, the orange of the pumpkin is repeated in the candy corn, and the purple that adorns kitty's hat and bow becomes the prominent color on the next spread, setting off the friendly white ghost nicely. The same purple is used for the spider's body on the next to last spread. Subtle, shadowed backgrounds repeat the patterns found elsewhere in the book. For example, the background of the page with the kitty includes pumpkins, hearts, and hats and bows like the ones kitty is wearing.
While this is not an essential purchase, most little pumpkins will love being told, “Baby, I'm batty for you!” (Board book. 6 mos.-3)Pub Date: June 28, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-545-88092-3
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
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by Sue Lowell Gallion ; illustrated by Joyce Wan
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by Salina Yoon & illustrated by Salina Yoon ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2012
The sparkly cover and less-than-exciting interactive elements fail to fully convey the majesty of the watery deep.
A diver directly recruits his audience to explore the salty sea.
Closed, the shaped cover follows the curve of the diver’s helmet; open, it evokes goggles through which readers can explore the deep. A variety of underwater creatures are revealed through lifting flaps; brief rhyming text on the undersides of the flaps provides a little informational heft. These rhymes are not distinguished by their lyricism, alas. “Jellyfish are pretty— / some glow in the dark. / But don't swim too close— / their sting leaves a mark.” The simply drawn creatures are not depicted to scale. The seahorse dominates its page, while the toothy shark appears shorter than the sea turtle. Two-toned blue backgrounds evoke waves. Space Walk uses an identical format to survey the planets (all eight of them) and is equally superficial.
The sparkly cover and less-than-exciting interactive elements fail to fully convey the majesty of the watery deep. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: March 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4027-8525-2
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
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by Salina Yoon ; illustrated by Salina Yoon
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by Salina Yoon ; illustrated by Salina Yoon
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by Salina Yoon ; illustrated by Salina Yoon
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