The back-of-the-book blurb declares that it’s “an awesome game”; just saying something’s awesome doesn't make it so.
A barnyard seek-and-find for toddlers.
Each busy double-page spread hides a number of animals—none of whom bear much resemblance to their namesakes in the real world. Instead, they are stylized, cutesy collage creations outlined in stitch patterns, resembling stuffed patchwork animals more than anything else. Although a counting book that goes from one through five should be simple, this one isn’t, skipping from “three” to “five” abruptly: “You found Cow, and Pig, and Bunny! / They knew they could count on you! / How many friends are hiding now? / FOUR?...No, FIVE! It's true!” Skipping over “four” will only confuse young children, who are already challenged by the concept of one-to-one correspondence. The back of the book tells readers they will be helping Silly Stitches with the counting, and it’s unclear which animal—if any—is Silly Stitches, since that character is never specified within the text. These weaknesses are repeated in the second Silly Stitches book, Guess Who's Hiding in the Forest, published simultaneously. Tactile elements, glitter, and shiny highlights are not enough to redeem either title.
The back-of-the-book blurb declares that it’s “an awesome game”; just saying something’s awesome doesn't make it so. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4867-0615-0
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Flowerpot Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, but the syrupy sweetness will cloy after the holiday.
Animal parents declare their love for their offspring in alphabetical order.
Each page displays an enormous capital letter, one line of verse with the keyword capitalized, and a loving nonhuman parent gazing adoringly at their baby. “A is for Always. I always love you more. / B is for Butterfly kisses. It’s you that I adore.” While not named or labelled as such, the A is also for an alligator and its hatchling and B is for a butterfly and a butterfly child (not a caterpillar—biology is not the aim of this title) interacting in some way with the said letter. For E there are an elephant and a calf; U features a unicorn and foal; and X, keyed to the last letter of the animal’s name, corresponds to a fox and three pups. The final double-page spread shows all the featured creatures and their babies as the last line declares: “Baby, I love you from A to Z!” The verse is standard fare and appropriately sentimental. The art is cartoony-cute and populated by suitably loving critters on solid backgrounds. Hearts accent each scene, but the theme of the project is never in any doubt.
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, but the syrupy sweetness will cloy after the holiday. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7282-2095-6
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
