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WORD PLAY ABC

Name: WORD PLAY ABC
Author: Heather Cahoon
ISBN: 0-8027-8683-9

by Heather Cahoon ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1999

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PLB 0-8027-8684-7 This alphabet book from newcomer Cahoon endeavors to keep its audience amused and engaged by punnery and word play. It works, too, for the most part, especially the literalisms, such as eerie (an extraterrestrial with an e for each ear), teacup (little t’s being poured into a cup), and open (a pen that specializes in o’s). Others are warm, such as a birdhouse full of warblers for music box or a beehive dripping honey for Home Sweet Home. The puns are fun—goosebumps features a swarm of goslings stumbling, and the quarter horse as a pony ride for 25 cents. The few that may leave readers scratching their heads, e.g., the relation of the ringtoss to a bandit throwing a lasso is not immediately apparent, keep the book fresh. The format provides a grand vehicle for Cahoon to showcase her illustrative talents; there is a dreamy, ancient quality to her images and their feeling of movement. (Picture book. 3-8)

Pub Date: March 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-8027-8683-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Walker

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
ROCK IT, SOCK IT, NUMBER LINE
by Bill Martin Jr & Michael Sampson & illustrated by Heather Cahoon

- BOOK REVIEW
TEN FRIENDS
by Bruce Goldstone & illustrated by Heather Cahoon

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MONSTER MATH

by Anne Miranda & illustrated by Anne Miranda ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1999

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Miranda’s book counts the monsters gathering at a birthday party, while a simple rhyming text keeps the tally and surveys the action: “Seven starved monsters are licking the dishes./Eight blow out candles and make birthday wishes.” The counting proceeds to ten, then by tens to fifty, then gradually returns to one, which makes the monster’s mother, a purple pin-headed octopus, very happy. The book is surprisingly effective due to Powell’s artwork; the color has texture and density, as if it were poured onto the page, but the real attention-getter is the singularity of every monster attendee. They are highly individual and, therefore, eminently countable. As the numbers start crawling upward, it is both fun and a challenge to try to recognize monsters who have appeared in previous pages, or to attempt to stay focused when counting the swirling or bunched creatures. The story has glints of humor, and in combination with the illustrations is a grand addition to the counting shelf. (Picture book. 3-8)

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-15-201835-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- BOOK REVIEW
TANGLED
by Anne Miranda ; illustrated by Eric Comstock

- BOOK REVIEW
VROOM, CHUGGA, VROOM-VROOM
by Anne Miranda & illustrated by David Murphy

- BOOK REVIEW
TO MARKET, TO MARKET
by Anne Miranda & illustrated by Janet Stevens

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QUACK AND COUNT

by Keith Baker & illustrated by Keith Baker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1999

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Baker (Big Fat Hen, 1994, etc.) engages in more number play, posing ducklings in every combination of groups, e.g., “Splashing as they leap and dive/7 ducklings, 2 plus 5.” Using a great array of streaked and dappled papers, Baker creates a series of leafy collage scenes for the noisy, exuberant ducklings to fill, tucking in an occasional ladybug or other small creature for sharp-eyed pre-readers to spot. Children will regretfully wave goodbye as the ducks fly off in neat formation at the end of this brief, painless introduction to several basic math concepts. (Picture book. 4-6)