The tangle of yarn on each page makes this delightful volume feel more dynamic than many typical concept books, with the...
A spirited black kitten plays with yarn to teach children colors in this work from author and illustrator Sper (What on Earth Can We Do?, 2016, etc.).
The radiant cover gives a preview of what this concept book contains: a black kitten, surrounded by 10 different colors of yarn, appears on a spare white background. When readers open the first two-page spread, the feline—almost entirely black, but with gray highlights to depict features such as ears and paws—tackles a red ball of yarn. The word “red” is the only text. On the second two-page spread, the red ball has left a yarn trail, and the kitten cuddles a yellow ball, his blue eyes small enough that they don’t distract from the “yellow” of the object. On each two-page spread, trails of the previous yarn cover part of the white background, joined by a new ball with its own strands; the only text is the new color word. By the time the animal reaches the sixth ball, the page begins to get crowded with colors, and the yarn starts to entangle the kitten as well as filling the page. But the intrepid feline never gets tied up, and the text color and the ball of yarn are always clear. On the final two-page spread, the background makes a dramatic shift; suddenly all the trails and the kitten, surrounded by a blue glow to reveal his position, are bright against a black background, as the animal bats a white ball of yarn. Beginning readers should have an easy time identifying color words because of the text’s isolation and the clear visual cues. Toddlers should be able to point to each color and its word, printed in the same hue it represents, to help learn the palette the book offers. Pet lovers and youngsters will likely be charmed by this wonderful work that remains simple to follow.
The tangle of yarn on each page makes this delightful volume feel more dynamic than many typical concept books, with the frisky feline an energetic guide.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-9754902-8-0
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Jump Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The debut of a welcome new voice and vision, in photographs of a steamy summer cityscape and remembrances of the hottest of days. A little girl in beaded braids prances her way through this bright book; its full-color photos have a casual snapshot quality. The visual interest lies in the fresh and intriguing way these snapshots are collaged with other media into an urban narrative for very young children. Caramel-colored arms reach down from the top of a page to fry an egg on a tan sidewalk; sneakers ``splash'' through wavy cut-outs of water; streaky, painted raindrops underscore the actual wetness of the streets. The first-person narration is simple, written in a colloquial present-tense, and progresses with the pictures to the dramatic, cooling storm. (Picture book. 2+)
Pub Date: May 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-688-13393-2
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1995
The refrain, “I love being me,” offers a worthwhile affirmation, but cookie-cutter faces undermine the message about...
A book that pays homage to the versatility of black hair.
A dark-skinned black girl, eyes closed, face forward, greets readers on the cover against a bright yellow background, and she wears a pink bow (die-cut out of the case) in her wavy updo. This is one of many hairstyles featured in the illustrations, designed to help readers appreciate the potential for styling natural Afro hair. “Bomb braids,” “pom-pom puffs” and “‘fro-hawk” (an Afro-styled mohawk) also appear. Like these, most of the hairstyle names incorporate alliteration, making them fun to read aloud. At first glance, readers might think this book is about one girl’s hair—which is possible, given how many styles one head of afrotextured hair can sport—but skin color changes, as do clothes, earrings, and other details that are easily altered, although every girl holds the same face-front, eye-closed position. But the sameness of each face leaves no room for variations in other features such as the eyes, lips, and nose. Hence, young readers might consider this a paper version of the video games that allow changes in hairstyles on a face that has limited or no customizability—which also limits the book’s usefulness as multicultural literature.
The refrain, “I love being me,” offers a worthwhile affirmation, but cookie-cutter faces undermine the message about diversity. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-9848-9554-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2019
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