Board-book audiences need a story that is simpler and easier to understand than this one.
The events of the Jewish holiday of Passover are presented for young children.
The story includes Moses, the pharaoh of Egypt, and the 10 plagues but skips the parting of the Red Sea. It does not explain who Moses is, who the Hebrew people are, and why they needed to leave Egypt. Children will need adults to stop to explain such words as pharaoh, plagues, slaves, house of bondage, gnats, boils, and unleavened bread. The illustrations, mostly in blues, greys and browns, look fairly modern and not representative of the ancient time period; one interior shows the inside of a house overrun with frogs, with a fireplace, empty shelves, and a table and bench that look unremarkable except for the pyramids visible through the window. Most of the people in the illustrations look similar to one another, with dark hair and round faces, and their skin tones are inconsistent. The words Lord and God are used interchangeably, as in “The Lord was angry. He sent gnats…. / Then God sent flies…. / The Lord sent boils”—a potentially confusing usage. This reprint of a 2001 edition is slightly larger than the original and features a cleaner design, but it is still not a particularly helpful treatment for the board-book set.
Board-book audiences need a story that is simpler and easier to understand than this one. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8249-1652-7
Page Count: 24
Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery.
A troop of cats traverse a spooky landscape as they make their way to a party hosted by ghosts.
Each double-page spread shows the felines’ encounters with the likes of an owl, jack-o’-lanterns or a bat. One or two of these creepy meetings may be too abstract for the youngest readers, as the cats hear eerie noises with no discernible source on the page. The text, which consists of one rhyming couplet per scene, mostly scans despite a couple of wobbles: “Five black cats get a bit of a scare / As the flip-flapping wings of a bat fill the air.” The sleek, slightly retro art, likely created using a computer, depicts the cats cavorting at night through a shadowy cityscape, the countryside and a haunted house; they may scare some toddlers and delight others. A brighter color palette would have given the project a friendlier, more universal appeal. Luckily, the well-lit, final party scene provides a playful conclusion.
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-58925-611-8
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
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