Corey’s workhorse of a text has been addressing separation anxiety for almost 35 years, first illustrated by Lois Axeman in 1976 and then by Diane Paterson in 1999. Now it has been re-illustrated again and packaged in board-book format. In Fox’s bright, cheery illustrations, a bevy of children of varying ethnicities watch their adults go away and come back while experimenting a little bit on their own. While it is certain that very young babies can begin to grasp object permanence, whether this book is the best way to reinforce it is another question. Will even young toddlers be able to decode the actions and emotions depicted in static images, however effectively illustrated? It’s still an important book, but best used with older toddlers, not babies, as the format seems to imply. (Board book. 2-3)
Pub Date: March 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8075-9440-7
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
This awkward attempt to force underwear out into the open will likely please many toddlers but few of their grown-ups.
This celebration of briefs (not boxers) leaves little to the imagination.
Bear receives an envelope inviting him to follow a trail of undergarments. His journey leads him deep into the dark woods, and even under the kitchen sink, in search of these undies. The final clue takes him to a disco, where blocky, big-eyed, SpongeBob SquarePants–like characters don their recently recovered underpants. A hairy monster with polka-dot briefs, jagged teeth and bare feet balances a bunny and porcupine in either hand and serves as the unusual party's host. “Welcome to FUN-TO-WEAR, / a party about underwear! / Here's every pattern / and every pair. / Count all Ten and shout: / HOORAY FOR BEAR!” Tabbed, numbered pages help readers keep track of the corresponding clothing. Tabs, text bubbles and backgrounds are all color-coordinated with the various undies. Any substantial plot or character development is sacrificed to the gleeful celebration of tightywhities (or stripies, or plaidies or swirlies).
This awkward attempt to force underwear out into the open will likely please many toddlers but few of their grown-ups. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: May 29, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-60905-204-1
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Blue Apple
Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
There are just too many cooks in this kitchen.
Pim has quite the appetite and one unusual palate.
Little Pim the panda scours his pantry for something to eat. Tabs and lift-the-flaps feature three possible ingredients on each page to add to the meal; each one is described in three different languages (English, Spanish and French). Crowded type in various colors and itty-bitty phonetic pronunciations make these labels hard to read. Beginning with bread for his sandwich (the other flaps conceal carrots and apples), Pim’s tastes demonstrate a toddlerlike eclecticism. He crams a hodgepodge of foodstuffs (seven potato chips, nine marshmallows, etc.) into his towering sandwich. The fake enthusiasm grates. Pim juggles apples as the narrator urges readers to join in: “Making a sandwich is fun! Now Little Pim needs six slices of cheese. Can you help him find them?” A concluding spread depicts his final culinary masterpiece. Animals brings Pim and his camera to photograph farm animals, with a similar interactive design.
There are just too many cooks in this kitchen. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0175-7
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
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