A well-crafted, informative, and entertaining insect adventure.
A young butterfly prepares for her first migration in this illustrated children’s book.
Kai is a purple butterfly who lives in “Taiwan, a beautiful island also known as the Butterfly Kingdom.” She’s preparing for her first migration from the northern tip of Taiwan to the southern district of Maolin. Ami, her older sister, teaches her special butterfly dances along the way. They stop at various Taiwanese landmarks as they travel, including Cape Santiago Lighthouse, Golden Waterfall, Red Hair Fort, Freedom Square, and “the tallest building in Taiwan, Taipei 101.” Kai is unsure of her ability to learn the butterfly dances from Ami. But Ami proves to be her cheerleader, offering her plenty of positive encouragement. As they get closer to their destination, they traverse the Taiwan Central Mountain Range and “pass by trees that reach the moon.” They arrive at the Butterfly Highway and meet a number of new friends who guide them on their way. When Ami is injured, Kai must take her place in the Winter Festival dance show. Kai again lacks confidence in her abilities, and Ami reassures her. Over the course of this book, Lee offers young readers a motivational story of butterfly migration while also sharing informative tidbits about famous locations throughout Taiwan; a glossary provides additional facts about specific spots. In addition, there’s an effective can-do message, shown through the example of Ami and, later, through Kai’s actions. Su’s anthropomorphic butterfly and animal illustrations are colorful and whimsical in ways that are sure to appeal to young children. An array of characters of different ages appear in the images, including an elderly woman who uses a wheelchair.
A well-crafted, informative, and entertaining insect adventure.Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-913891-17-6
Page Count: 38
Publisher: Balestier Press
Review Posted Online: April 25, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come.
Little Blue Truck and his pal Toad meet friends old and new on a springtime drive through the country.
This lift-the-flap, interactive entry in the popular Little Blue Truck series lacks the narrative strength and valuable life lessons of the original Little Blue Truck (2008) and its sequel, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (2009). Both of those books, published for preschoolers rather than toddlers, featured rich storylines, dramatic, kinetic illustrations, and simple but valuable life lessons—the folly of taking oneself too seriously, the importance of friends, and the virtue of taking turns, for example. At about half the length and with half as much text as the aforementioned titles, this volume is a much quicker read. Less a story than a vernal celebration, the book depicts a bucolic drive through farmland and encounters with various animals and their young along the way. Beautifully rendered two-page tableaux teem with butterflies, blossoms, and vibrant pastel, springtime colors. Little Blue greets a sheep standing in the door of a barn: “Yoo-hoo, Sheep! / Beep-beep! / What’s new?” Folding back the durable, card-stock flap reveals the barn’s interior and an adorable set of twin lambs. Encounters with a duck and nine ducklings, a cow with a calf, a pig with 10 (!) piglets, a family of bunnies, and a chicken with a freshly hatched chick provide ample opportunity for counting and vocabulary work.
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-544-93809-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
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.
