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SNOWMAN

Nice enough but far from a requisite purchase.

A die-cut board book with a simple presentation of the Christmas theme for the youngest ones.

On the cover, a snowman with a die-cut tummy introduces the theme. Layered behind the round, open circle that makes up his body, readers can glimpse pieces of the pages inside. Open the book and meet the well-known elements of a shopping-mall-secular Christmas celebration: reindeer, elf, bag, presents, sleigh, boots, Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus, Christmas tree, Christmas Eve. The elf and both the Clauses are white. The illustrations are colorful and cheery, but the die cuts are at times problematic. For example, two little circles represent buttons for several figures, including the snowman and Santa’s jacket, but appear as baffling holes on a Christmas present and the sleigh. Though the snowman’s body is cleverly built up from the pages behind it, the big open circle means the body of the reindeer on the next page is just an empty void. That empty void carries through on the left-hand pages, and when it gets to Mrs. Claus, it is an awkward empty space between her knees and her tummy. Still, babies will enjoy the transformations occurring as they turn the pages, and the peekaboo element inherent to die cuts is always sure to please.

Nice enough but far from a requisite purchase. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4998-0344-0

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Little Bee Books

Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2016

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THE ITSY BITSY BUNNY

Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead.

An Easter-themed board-book parody of the traditional nursery rhyme.

Unfortunately, this effort is just as sugary and uninspired as The Itsy Bitsy Snowman, offered by the same pair in 2015. A cheerful white bunny hops through a pastel world to distribute candy and treats for Easter but spills his baskets. A hedgehog, fox, mouse, and various birds come to the bunny’s rescue, retrieving the candy, helping to devise a distribution plan, and hiding the eggs. Then magically, they all fly off in a hot air balloon as the little animals in the village emerge to find the treats. Without any apparent purpose, the type changes color to highlight some words. For very young children every word is new, so highlighting “tiny tail” or “friends” makes no sense. Although the text is meant to be sung, the words don't quite fit the rhythm of the original song. Moreover, there are not clear motions to accompany the text; without the fingerplay movements, this book has none of the satisfying verve of the traditional version.

Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4814-5621-0

Page Count: 16

Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016

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SMILE, POUT-POUT FISH

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.

This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.

Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014

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