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MY BARNYARD!

From the Read and Play series

Part book, part puzzle, all fun.

Little ones are invited to piece together a farm.

The barnyard acts as a backdrop for this "read and play" book. Cows, chickens, horses, and several other farm animals are absent from their pictures, and little ones are encourage to complete the illustration with attached puzzle pieces. Each animal piece is connected to the book's spine with a colored ribbon. The ribbon's color matches the book's text. For example, in the hint "Chickens 'cluck' as they go," the word “chicken” is printed in orange type, and the chicken piece is affixed to the book with an orange ribbon. These ribbons also make these pieces nearly impossible to lose. The pieces are sturdy enough that young readers can chew on them, and parents needn't worry about soggy sheep falling apart. Younger readers may be more interested in fiddling with individual pieces than in the blandly rhyming story, but older readers will surely enjoy the matching game.

Part book, part puzzle, all fun. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: June 30, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-545-69077-5

Page Count: 10

Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: April 28, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015

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THE BUNNY RABBIT SHOW!

A swell read for the lighthearted. (Board book. 1-3)

The bunnies that inhabit Boynton’s colorful world put on a musical show for the other animals.

The rabbits have taken over the theater. They dance and sing, bragging about their long ears and twitchy noses for the pigs and chickens in the audience. The rhythmic chorus—“We are ten terrific rabbits and we like to dance and sing. / Ten terrific rabbits. We can do almost anything”—is mighty infectious. The author’s trademark wit and humor are on full display as the other animals dress up like bunnies and join the massive grand finale. The barnyard cast forms a musical troupe that amuses and delights. Adults will appreciate the clever sight gags, and small children will appreciate the tasteful boasting and empowering jingle. While it’s not as complete a vehicle for inculcating emergent language skills as many of Boynton’s other books, there’s no denying it’s got verve.

A swell read for the lighthearted. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-7611-8060-9

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Workman

Review Posted Online: June 30, 2014

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BUNNY ROO, I LOVE YOU

A lovely package, this quiet title will be best as a gift book for new moms eager to read aloud to the newest members of...

A mother’s observations of her new baby lead to a series of sweet comparisons to various animals.

“When I met you, you were small and trembling, and I thought you might be a little bunny. / I held you close so you were warm.” Teen author Marr (Made for You, 2014, etc.) uses playful yet comforting language in her picture-book debut. The baby’s squirming kicks remind her of a “lost kangaroo”; a lifting of the child’s head makes her think of a “curious lizard”; and the little one’s howl seems like that of a “lonely wolf.” Each of the child’s behaviors leads to a tender action taken by the mother: tucking the baby in, offering milk, and giving a bath. Each time a new creature is introduced, White gently changes the dominant color in the muted pastel palette of her watercolor and gouache illustrations. That hue is also reflected in the hand-lettered text, giving the overall design of the book a vintage feel. When the baby smiles, the mother knows “You are not a bunny-roo-lizard-wolf-kitten-piggy. You are my baby.” The final page shows the curled-up infant asleep in a pile of blankets.

A lovely package, this quiet title will be best as a gift book for new moms eager to read aloud to the newest members of their families. (Picture book. 1-3)

Pub Date: April 14, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-399-16742-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2015

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