I AM THE WOLF...AND HERE I COME!

Name: I AM THE WOLF...AND HERE I COME!
Author: Bénédicte Guettier
ISBN: 978-1-877579-42-4

by Bénédicte Guettier ; illustrated by Bénédicte Guettier ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2015

Originally published in France, this vibrantly colored, vertically bound offering featuring a silly and slightly scary wolf...

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Watch out! The big, bad wolf is coming to get you.

But first, he has to introduce himself. Drawn in thick black lines against a white background, he announces, with hands on hips, “Hello, I am the big bad wolf.” On subsequent pages, readers watch as he dons his big-bad-wolf outfit, one garment per page spread: first his underpants (covered in pink hearts), then a white T-shirt, orange socks, blue pants, a red pullover, boots, a feathered hat, and finally, a long black coat. Kids will readily relate to this time-consuming process of getting dressed (though they may be initially thrown by a couple of unusual vocabulary choices: “trousers” and “top”). As he pulls on all these various items, the wolf looks downright silly, with large, round yellow eyes and a goofy grin. On the final pages, he turns more menacing with arms raised, eyebrows slanted and pink tongue protruding. Following the advice on the back cover—quickly “snap[ping] the book shut to keep the wolf inside”—will help wee ones feel safe as they enjoy the thrill of a little scare.

Originally published in France, this vibrantly colored, vertically bound offering featuring a silly and slightly scary wolf will keep kids coming back for more. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: March 1, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-877579-42-4

Page Count: 22

Publisher: Gecko Press

Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THE DAD WITH 10 CHILDREN
by Bénédicte Guettier ; illustrated by Bénédicte Guettier

- BOOK REVIEW
THE FATHER WHO HAD TEN CHILDREN
by Bénédicte Guettier

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MY FIRST BUSY BOOK

From the World of Eric Carle series

by Eric Carle ; illustrated by Eric Carle ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 15, 2015

A satisfying package that will indeed keep toddlers busy—exemplary.

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The latest addition to the World of Eric Carle is proof that the Wilder Award–winning picture-book creator knows what appeals to children.

This board book is both developmentally appropriate and aesthetically pleasing—perfect for toddlers. In a sturdy, oversize (10 1/2 inches square) format, Carle recycles iconic images from his vast canon to introduce shapes, colors, numbers, animals, and sounds. The flower on the cover is almost (but not quite) identical to the flower that grows from The Tiny Seed (1970). Seeing the animals throughout the pages is like recognizing old friends. But Carle and the book’s designer, Hannah Frece, put these familiar images to fresh uses to create a logical, accessible, and harmonious concept book. Although billed as a “busy book,” it is not hyperactive, using just five or six images per spread. From the mirror that lights up the sun on the cover to the touch-and-feel inserts on the page about animals to the single flap that hides a mouse from a cat, the tactile elements have been chosen with intention instead of just as gimmicks. On other pages, foils and textures are subtle, with many barely raised images that invite tracing.

A satisfying package that will indeed keep toddlers busy—exemplary. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: Dec. 15, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4814-5791-0

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Nov. 16, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?
edited by Eric Carle

- BOOK REVIEW
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BUG?
edited by Eric Carle

- BOOK REVIEW
MY FIRST I SEE YOU
by Eric Carle ; illustrated by Eric Carle

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HALLOWEEN ABC

by Nosy Crow ; illustrated by Jannie Ho ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 18, 2017

While the ghoulies here are more cute than scary, “jump,” “quiver,” and “run” will probably get across the idea to even the...

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An abecedary of spooky or autumnal delights for the littlest readers.

Each letter of the alphabet is highlighted on a single page, the upper- and lowercase letters appearing in the upper left-hand corner, while the object is named at the bottom or in the upper right. Ho keeps her illustrations simple and places them against plain, brightly colored backgrounds, keeping them accessible to those still learning about Halloween’s many icons. The almost-fluorescent orange cover is sure to attract attention, and the palette of black, purple, orange, yellow, and radioactive green enhances the Halloween mood. But while many of the chosen items will be expected—bats, ghost, haunted house, owl, skeleton, vampire, witch, zombie—others are rather odd choices. J is for “jump,” not jack-o’-lantern (“pumpkin” is illustrated with a jack-o’-lantern); K is for a mostly black “kitten” standing in a coffin; and N is for “nightmare,” which is virtually impossible to express visually for this age group without provoking said nightmare. Here, a lavender-skinned child (zombie?) in pajamas and nightcap has arms raised and mouth open wide in surprise—perhaps in response to the mummy across the gutter? The tough letters use “quiver,” spider-decorated “underpants” on a monster, and “extra treats,” the x underlined.

While the ghoulies here are more cute than scary, “jump,” “quiver,” and “run” will probably get across the idea to even the youngest listeners that Halloween can be scary. (Board book. 2-4)