A playful, toothsome choice.
Animals chew their way into view.
Common two-word phrases describe how creatures on the land and in the sea use their mouths to grin and growl. Each character's face occupies the majority of each spread, while its elongated body disappears off the edge. Die-cut openings reveal a set of pearly whites appropriately positioned within each animal's jaws; a pull of the tab allows children to open and shut them. With a turn of the page, the next animal's maw increases in size; on the left-hand page, the previous animals’ hides peek through. Expressions balance between comedy and intimidation for the toddler audience; the teeth remain the focal point as they frame the crocodile's cunning smile and the impressive lion's roar. The thick, easily movable flap allows easy access for little fingers, and depicts both passive activity (the polar bear's yawn) and signs of aggression (the shark's powerful chomp.) The textured cover adds immediate appeal for the young audience.
A playful, toothsome choice. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4494-1016-2
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Accord
Review Posted Online: May 29, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
A lovely depiction of a first friendship.
A young girl enjoys the company of her stuffed rabbit from sunup to sundown.
This companion title to Ben Loves Bear (2013) follows a similar day-in-the-life format. In soft watercolor double-page spreads and smaller vignettes, Bella and Bunny do some gardening, enjoy a picnic and play the piano. McPhail uses simple, descriptive sentences to caption the art and includes bits of humor, such as Bunny’s enjoyment of a slice of carrot cake and Bella’s rough-and-tumble treatment of her friend. Probably due to issues of size and scale, some children may initially be confused as to whether Bunny is a stuffed animal or not, but Bella and Bunny’s warm relationship will draw them in regardless.
A lovely depiction of a first friendship. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)Pub Date: March 12, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0543-4
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Review Posted Online: Feb. 26, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013
It's a shame that an examination of colors can feel so drab.
Chester Raccoon (The Kissing Hand, 1993) explores a rainbow of hues found in the great outdoors. Examples (red apple, brown caterpillar) are often small and difficult to discern against the wooded backdrop; the effort would benefit from a more dynamic design geared to the toddling set. Beginning and ending with the color white, the slight tale moves spread by spread through each featured hue. The name of each color is bolded within the text, but does not otherwise stand out from the rest of the black-on-white print. Each object is named within the verse, which often suffers from the necessity of making meter and rhyme. “School's Owl Teacher / Plays while she sings / ‘See the orange butterfly / Open its wings!’ ” A final call for audience participation falls flat. “You can play too! / You can play day or night. / Find Chester's colors / Beginning with WHITE.” Though the head-on view of Chester's friend Badger hunkered down to go eye to eye with the caterpillar is appealing, too often Chester's expression is fixedly cheerful, and the body language does not vary enough. Without developed visual characterization or effective demonstration of concept, it's best to kiss this one goodbye. (Board book. 1-3)
Pub Date: May 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-933718-58-3
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Tanglewood Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 29, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
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