A bittersweet, vividly rendered animal story.
An abandoned dog finds a new family and friendship in this picture book.
Pug is a small canine who lives happily with a human family in a small house. Piggy, a petite speckled pig, lives on a farm, loves to play with the boy who takes care of her, and is sad when he’s at school. One day, Pug’s family suddenly moves, leaving him behind; meanwhile, Piggy tries to make new friends on the farm. However, butterflies and turtles flee from Pug, and the pig has no luck talking with cows and chickens. After a fox chases Pug to the farm, the dog and pig find each other. The farm family realizes that Pug’s former owners left him behind because they couldn’t afford him, so they decide to keep him. This quirky tale of friendship has a happy ending, and readers are sure to take its lessons to heart. The book seems like it might have been intended to have full-page illustrations; instead, it presents four small ones on every two-page spread. Still, debut author Wheaton’s accessible text is surrounded by white space, which will make it accessible for newly independent readers; the easy-to-follow plot will keep them engaged. Debut illustrator Jacob’s brightly colored images feature lovable animal characters and Caucasian humans in a Disney-like style.
A bittersweet, vividly rendered animal story.Pub Date: Dec. 20, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-9741160-9-9
Page Count: 31
Publisher: Monolith Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 4, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
<p>Perfectly fine but nothing new.</p>
Caregiver-child love abounds in this rhyming board book full of animal puns.
One thing’s for certain, there’s plenty of sweet (and groanworthy) sentiments in this book. Rossner writes, “Giving HOGS and kisses / sends me to the moon!” and, “I’m such a lucky DUCK. / You really QUACK me up!” The book progresses entirely in this fashion, with a new animal pair and pun with each page turn. It reads well as a book for a caregiver to share with a lap-sitting child. On that mark, it succeeds in providing plenty of opportunities for giggles and snuggles. That said, at times the meter is forced, making the cadence a bit stilted, and the cuddles/bubbles rhyme is a dubious one. This is an issue for a book that will almost solely be read aloud. Gibson’s illustrations are very charming; the animals and insects with big eyes and expressive faces have high appeal. The warmth of the animals’ embraces and cuddles translates well from the page, inviting the same snuggles from readers. Decorated eggs appear on each page, and the bunny pair from the cover features prominently. Overall, the concept and message of the book are high interest and age-appropriate, but it doesn’t stand out from the very crowded shelf of “I love you, little one!” books similar to it.
<p>Perfectly fine but nothing new.</p> (Board book. 6 mos.-2)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-7282-2343-8
Page Count: 25
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character.
One of Boynton's signature characters celebrates Halloween.
It's Halloween time, and Pookie the pig is delighted. Mom helps the little porker pick out the perfect Halloween costume, a process that spans the entire board book. Using an abcb rhyme scheme, Boynton dresses Pookie in a series of cheerful costumes, including a dragon, a bunny, and even a caped superhero. Pookie eventually settles on the holiday classic, a ghost, by way of a bedsheet. Boynton sprinkles in amusing asides to her stanzas as Pookie offers costume commentary ("It's itchy"; "It's hot"; "I feel silly"). Little readers will enjoy the notion of transforming themselves with their own Halloween costumes while reading this book, and a few parents may get some ideas as well. Boynton's clean, sharp illustrations are as good as ever. This is Pookie's first holiday title, but readers will surely welcome more.
A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-553-51233-5
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Robin Corey/Random
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
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