by Faith Balsama illustrated by Faith Balsama ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 2017
A funny, delightful, beautiful, and triumphant tale of animal friendship.
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Told in zappai (similar to haiku), this picture book celebrates an impish trick played by two orange chipmunks on a purple cat.
Less formal and technical than haiku, zappai also has 17 syllables in lines of five, seven, and five syllables but is appropriate for amusing verse. Orange chipmunk companions Sako and Suki live in Chipmunk Run, where they scamper about searching for food—but uh-oh. “Beware of the cat / Big Purple Fuji Mama— / She’s out for a meal!” The friends chip-chip a danger alert and run for their lives as the formidable feline pounces. They make it to their den, hugging each other, resting, and making a plan. With Fuji Mama now sleeping (and dreaming of chipmunks), Sako and Suki sprint past dangers and temptations to the field where catnip grows. Gathering some, they drop stinky leaves by the sleeping cat, who wakes “Mewing and purring / Drooling all over the place / Totally clueless.” The friends laugh at her (from a safe distance, of course)—until next time. Balsama (I Wish You Angels, 2009, etc.) packs a lot of entertainment and real emotion into these short but effective verses, which make good use of the zappai structure. The story is backed with her evocative, painterly illustrations in shimmeringly vivid, varying brush strokes. She skillfully captures the personalities of her animals: the chipmunks’ fear and tenderness for each other, a bullfrog’s mighty leap, and Fuji Mama’s silliness when high on catnip.
A funny, delightful, beautiful, and triumphant tale of animal friendship.Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5439-0781-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: BookBaby
Review Posted Online: May 22, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 2, 2018
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
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by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry
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by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016
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
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More by Alice Schertle
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by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry
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