THERE WAS AN OLD GIANT WHO SWALLOWED A CLOCK

bookshelf

THERE WAS AN OLD GIANT WHO SWALLOWED A CLOCK

Name: THERE WAS AN OLD GIANT WHO SWALLOWED A CLOCK
Author: Becky Davies
ISBN: 978-1-68010-076-1

by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Elina Ellis ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2018

Great fun.

bookshelf

And not a small clock, either!

Apparently, this giant is related to that old lady who swallowed a fly. He is also a clock aficionado, or perhaps a clock repairman, as he’s surrounded by them. In any event, the white giant “had such a shock when he swallowed that clock!” After this, he swallows his knitting, a moth that he finds in his closet, some honey, even a bear. (“He swallowed the bear to eat up the honey.”) Next, he swallows a net “to catch the bear.” He tries a boat to “pull in the net.” Then he swallows the sea to “wash down the boat,” and finally tries swallowing the moon. Why? To “soak up the sea. / Not very clever—I’m sure you’ll agree!” Ingenious book design features a die-cut hole in the right-hand page, showing the clock that he has swallowed. The left-hand page features that first verse. Then when readers turn the pages, the hole on the left-hand page repeats that first verse in smaller type, while through the increasingly large holes on the right-hand pages, readers see the swallowed item(s). By the end, the hole is large, the verse is long, and the giant’s stomach sure to succumb to indigestion. Ellis’ pictures are refreshingly kooky, filled with various cats, mice, and other small critters who view the goings-on with some interest. Davies wisely sticks to the meter of her inspiration, and caregivers will likely sing that tune as they share the book.

Great fun. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: March 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-68010-076-1

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Tiger Tales

Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
HOW TO MAKE A BOOK
by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Patricia Hu

- BOOK REVIEW
CITIES OF THE WORLD
by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Josie Portillo

- BOOK REVIEW
I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ALL THE STARS
by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Dana Brown

bookshelf

CLOTHESLINE CLUES TO JOBS PEOPLE DO

From the Clothesline Clues series

by Kathryn Heling Deborah Hembrook & illustrated by Andy Robert Davies ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2012

Pair this with Leo Timmers’ Who Is Driving? (2007) for twice the guessing fun.

bookshelf

Heling and Hembrook’s clever conceit challenges children to analyze a small town’s clotheslines to guess the job each of their owners does.

Close-up on the clothesline: “Uniform and cap, / an invite for you. / Big bag of letters. / What job does she do?” A turn of the page reveals a macro view of the home, van and the woman doing her job, “She is a mail carrier.” Indeed, she can be spotted throughout the book delivering invitations to all the rest of the characters, who gather at the end for a “Launch Party.” The verses’ rhymes are spot-on, though the rhythm falters a couple of times. The authors nicely mix up the gender stereotypes often associated with several of these occupations, making the carpenter, firefighter and astronaut women. But while Davies keeps uniforms and props pretty neutral (he even avoids U.S. mail symbols), he keeps to the stereotypes that allow young readers to easily identify occupations—the farmer chews on a stalk of wheat; the beret-wearing artist sports a curly mustache. A subdued palette and plain white backgrounds keep kids’ focus on the clothing clues. Still, there are plenty of details to absorb—the cat with arched back that anticipates a spray of water, the firefighter who “lights” the rocket.

Pair this with Leo Timmers’ Who Is Driving? (2007) for twice the guessing fun. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: July 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-1-58089-251-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Charlesbridge

Review Posted Online: May 15, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2012

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
CLOTHESLINE CLUES TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
by Kathryn Heling & Deborah Hembrook ; illustrated by Andy Robert Davies

- BOOK REVIEW
CLOTHESLINE CLUES TO SPORTS PEOPLE PLAY
by Kathryn Heling & Deborah Hembrook ; illustrated by Andy Robert Davies

- BOOK REVIEW
GRADUATION GROOVE
by Kathryn Heling & Deborah Hembrook ; illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda

- BOOK REVIEW
CLOTHESLINE CLUES TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
by Kathryn Heling & Deborah Hembrook ; illustrated by Andy Robert Davies

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S ONLY ONE YOU
by Kathryn Heling & Deborah Hembrook ; illustrated by Rosie Butcher

bookshelf

PICK A PERFECT EGG

by Patricia Toht ; illustrated by Jarvis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 14, 2023

Egg-stra special.

bookshelf

The creators of Pick a Pine Tree (2017) and Pick a Pumpkin (2019) cover each step of a popular Easter tradition.

The first stop for a light-skinned caregiver and child is the farm. Peering into the henhouse, they spot an egg (reminding readers that eggs don’t originate at the grocery store). More eggs are collected throughout the spring countryside and brought home, ready to hard boil. While the eggs are cooling, it’s time to prepare the dye! The lively text highlights natural methods first (“Stew some plants / to make a brew: / beets turn eggs / a rosy hue. / Spinach? Green! / Berries? Blue! / Try some herbs / or spices, too”) but also gives a nod to store-bought kits. After a full day of egg decorating, the youngster wakes up the next morning for a festive neighborhood egg hunt. Happily, treats found inside plastic eggs are not limited to sugar only; they include secret notes, tiny toys, and coins, too. (The child adds their dyed eggs to this bounty.) Sprays of bright greens, a shining sun, and dotted buds on trees as well as pastel bunting and fuzzy bunny ears and flower crowns on little ones bring a light, airy lift to this joyful community gathering. The children involved in the egg hunt are diverse in skin tone. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Egg-stra special. (Picture book. 3-6)