A traditional nursery rhyme in board-book format.
In this version, the musical notation is included on the back cover but without fingerplay directions. No matter; toddlers will quickly match actions to the words. The challenge will be settling them down for the next story after the satisfying “Five, four, three, two, one… / BLAST OFF!” Kubler’s multiracial cast of astronauts includes a black child who uses a wheelchair and two in glasses. The children’s costumes and their rocket ships appear homemade. Though the children are busy, Kubler’s illustrations are not. Using a palette reminiscent of slightly faded construction paper, she provides just enough detail to tell the story. Three more rhymes published simultaneously follow the same format. Round and Round the Garden and Sleeping Bunnies are not so well known in the United States, but a fresh version of Wheels on the Bus is always welcome. All use the traditional wording. In Garden, both the child in the bear costume and the friend who tickles wear glasses; a bespectacled white child and a black child who both wear bunny pajamas play the key roles in Bunnies. Clever caregivers will let children take turns acting out the different roles.
Yes, you can find fingerplays and songs online. But this simple board book and its companions are a more age-appropriate and satisfying way to introduce toddlers to sometimes-neglected storytime traditions. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-78628-199-9
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Child's Play
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2019
Categories: CHILDREN'S POETRY
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Little bunnies prepare for the definitive bunny holiday.
Bunnies prepare for Easter in this board book. In verse set to the cadence of “This Little Piggy,” bunnies go to market, bake a cake, paint eggs, weave a basket, and do all sorts of other things to get ready for Easter. Rescek’s illustrations take full advantage of spring’s color palette, employing purples, pinks, oranges, and blues and incorporating striped and spotted ovals evoking Easter eggs. Little readers learning about the Easter Bunny for the first time will be delighted to get a peek at the process bunnies may go through to prepare for Easter and how it mirrors activities they perform with their parents.
This brisk read is a solid accompaniment to Easter preparations. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0105-7
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Bee
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S POETRY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS
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Yet another remake of the classic fingerplay.
Burton and Rescek need to find a new song to parody or, better yet, come up with something original. As in earlier remakes—The Itsy Bitsy Pilgrim, The Istsy Bitsy Bunny, The Itsy Bitsy Reindeer (all 2016), and The Itsy Bitsy Snowman (2015)—the words are meant to be sung to the tune of the favorite nursery rhyme. In this outing, the rhymes work, but the meter is clunky. Rescek’s characters are cheery enough as they celebrate the transition from winter to spring. The question is why ducklings should replace spiders. “Down came the rain and chased the snow away” is simply not as satisfying as “washed the spider out.” The elements of danger, pluck, and mastery inherent in the original song are missing, as are the actions. A scene of anthropomorphic animals of different species sharing a den confuses rather than enlightens. There is no clear change from winter to spring; the color palette throughout is bright and springlike, and the duckling is about as realistic as an Easter Peep. Sturdy board pages may stand up to lots of handling, but young children are unlikely to ask for it more than once.
Toddlers are better served by a chorus of the original, accompanied by the finger motions . (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4814-8655-2
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S POETRY
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