by Ellen Mayer ; illustrated by Ying-Hwa Hu ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2015
A straightforward, informative, and joyous read for both parent and child.
A young tot buys a fish with her father.
This board book's narrative describes the search for a fish, but the real goal is helping little ones develop their verbal skills. A note for parents on the opening pages outlines the importance of constantly involving a toddler in conversation in order to expand their communication skills. Narrating the day’s events and replying back to toddlers' single-word responses with affirmative language is key and readily displayed in the book's narrative. A father has decided to take his daughter out to buy a fish, and the pair pokes around the store before finding the perfect pet. “Look—fish! Fish! Fish!" exclaims the enthusiastic African-American toddler (she has fabulous, wild hair). “Yes, I see the toy fish too,” replies the dad. “That’s a pretend fish to play with, not a fish to swim in our bowl.” This is a book best read by little ones that are starting to talk here and there but are still developing vocabulary and sentence structure. A similar title, Red Socks, goes one step down the developmental ladder and is aimed at those that are barely cooing.
A straightforward, informative, and joyous read for both parent and child. (Board book. 9-18 mos.)Pub Date: June 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-59572-707-7
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Star Bright
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
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by Ellen Mayer ; illustrated by Brizida Magro
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by Sindiwe Magona & Ellen Mayer ; illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright
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by Dan Saks ; illustrated by Brooke Smart ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2020
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
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by Dan Saks ; illustrated by Brooke Smart
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by Dan Saks ; illustrated by Brooke Smart
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by Dan Saks ; illustrated by Brooke Smart
by Rose Rossner ; illustrated by Jessica Gibson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 2, 2021
<p>Perfectly fine but nothing new.</p>
Caregiver-child love abounds in this rhyming board book full of animal puns.
One thing’s for certain, there’s plenty of sweet (and groanworthy) sentiments in this book. Rossner writes, “Giving HOGS and kisses / sends me to the moon!” and, “I’m such a lucky DUCK. / You really QUACK me up!” The book progresses entirely in this fashion, with a new animal pair and pun with each page turn. It reads well as a book for a caregiver to share with a lap-sitting child. On that mark, it succeeds in providing plenty of opportunities for giggles and snuggles. That said, at times the meter is forced, making the cadence a bit stilted, and the cuddles/bubbles rhyme is a dubious one. This is an issue for a book that will almost solely be read aloud. Gibson’s illustrations are very charming; the animals and insects with big eyes and expressive faces have high appeal. The warmth of the animals’ embraces and cuddles translates well from the page, inviting the same snuggles from readers. Decorated eggs appear on each page, and the bunny pair from the cover features prominently. Overall, the concept and message of the book are high interest and age-appropriate, but it doesn’t stand out from the very crowded shelf of “I love you, little one!” books similar to it.
<p>Perfectly fine but nothing new.</p> (Board book. 6 mos.-2)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-7282-2343-8
Page Count: 25
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
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by Rose Rossner ; illustrated by Morgan Huff
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by Rose Rossner ; illustrated by Aleksandra Szmidt
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by Rose Rossner & Brooke Backsen ; illustrated by AndoTwin
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