The usual favorite breakfast consisting of “sweet itty-bitty beans and potato bugs” awaits Hen and her three chicks in the garden, guarded this morning by a grumpy and growling dog tied to the tree. Shannon (More True Lies, 2001, etc.) has once again created a short, suspenseful tale with an unpredictable and satisfyingly canny ending. He develops the characters of Hen, her offspring, and Dog succinctly in a text that offers lots of opportunity to dramatize while reading aloud to very young preschoolers. Protective Mother Hen plays the respectable, appropriate role as she holds her chicks back and insists on waiting for the customary chicken feed. The oldest, Big Chick, tries to be a negotiator but fails to make a deal with Dog who continues to bark and jump out even though restricted by his leash. Brazen Middle Chick attempts a more aggressive approach of yelling threats but equally cowers under Dog’s menacing anger. Finally, underestimated Little Chick proves to be the clever one in the brood with her cunning and winning solution that outwits scary Dog and leads her family to the garden. Bold acrylics reflect the action of all the characters with large figures in hues of pale yellows for the chickens and white for the dog against a garden background of bright greens, browns, purples, and blues. Great for group sharing and participation story hour. (Picture book. 2-4)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-06-029823-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2002
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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A little boy exults in his new role as big brother.
Rhyming text describes the arrival of a new baby and all of the big brother’s rewarding new duties. He gets to help with feedings, diaper changes, playtime, bathtime, and naptime. Though the rhyming couplets can sometimes feel a bit forced and awkward, the sentiment is sweet, as the focus here never veers from the excitement and love a little boy feels for his tiny new sibling. The charming, uncluttered illustrations convincingly depict the growing bond between this fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked, smiling pair of boys. In the final pages, the parents, heretofore kept mostly out of view, are pictured holding the children. The accompanying text reads: “Mommy, Daddy, baby, me. / We love each other—a family!” In companion volume I Am a Big Sister, the little boy is replaced with a little girl with bows in her hair. Some of the colors and patterns in the illustrations are slightly altered, but it is essentially the same title.
A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an older sibling can do to help. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-68886-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Peppa hopes to join her classmates in a Halloween pumpkin competition in this adaptation of a story from the popular British television program Peppa Pig.
With the help of Granny and Grandpa Pig, Peppa turns her giant pumpkin, which is the size of a compact car, into a jack-o’-lantern. The trio is flummoxed when it comes time to transport the pumpkin to the competition, so they call on Miss Rabbit and her helicopter to airlift the pumpkin to the festivities as Peppa and her grandparents ride inside. Peppa arrives just in time for the contest and wins the prize for best flying pumpkin. The scenes look as if they are pulled directly from the television show, right down to the rectangular framing of some of the scenes. While the story is literally nothing new, the text is serviceable, describing the action in two to three sentences per page. The pumpkin-shaped book and orange foil cover will likely attract youngsters, whether they are Peppa fans or not.
This TV rerun in board-book form has nothing new to offer. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 30, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-33922-2
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS
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