This playful little tale and its companions are spoiled by the imposition of moral lessons.
The lesson of this and every other story in the Happyland board-book series is proclaimed right on the cover.
It's nice of Yaccarino to spell it out, because the “lesson” in each book in the series is actually open to interpretation. Without the final statement (“Good friends are better than big berries”), an astute child might conclude that this outing is cautioning against greed, as red, mosquitolike Bink has spent most of the book pursuing ever bigger berries; her friend’s final-page presentation of a berry does say much that’s good about her friend but little about gratitude. Likewise, companion Birthday Cake (“about sharing”) could be recommending gluttony. It is a stretch to conclude that yellow dog Clyde has learned that it's better to give than to receive just because Bink is happy with what is left of the cake. Each slight story is told in spreads that alternate between short statements and wordless pages. The characters are three bright-colored friends, with blue, footed fish Glub Glub (who is, mystifyingly, afraid to get wet in Rainy Day, which tackles “worry”) rounding out the cast.
This playful little tale and its companions are spoiled by the imposition of moral lessons. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Aug. 23, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7611-8736-3
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Workman
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
A joyful celebration.
Families in a variety of configurations play, dance, and celebrate together.
The rhymed verse, based on a song from the Noodle Loaf children’s podcast, declares that “Families belong / Together like a puzzle / Different-sized people / One big snuggle.” The accompanying image shows an interracial couple of caregivers (one with brown skin and one pale) cuddling with a pajama-clad toddler with light brown skin and surrounded by two cats and a dog. Subsequent pages show a wide array of families with members of many different racial presentations engaging in bike and bus rides, indoor dance parties, and more. In some, readers see only one caregiver: a father or a grandparent, perhaps. One same-sex couple with two children in tow are expecting another child. Smart’s illustrations are playful and expressive, curating the most joyful moments of family life. The verse, punctuated by the word together, frequently set in oversized font, is gently inclusive at its best but may trip up readers with its irregular rhythms. The song that inspired the book can be found on the Noodle Loaf website.
A joyful celebration. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-22276-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Nov. 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2020
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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