In the end, this joins the crowded ranks of cute books in verse vying for new mothers’ attention and doesn’t really stand out
Following titles dedicated to grandmas and grandpas, the author-illustrator duo tackles mothers.
Rhyming verse explores a mother rabbit’s love for her small bunny, some expressing that love, some her hopes and wishes for her child, some what her baby means to her, and still others how her child will grow: “You are my moonbean, / my star in the sky. / My hopes and my heart, / my cute honey pie. // On tippy-tiptoes, / you’ll reach when you’re small. / Hug-a-bug bunny, / I’ll watch you grow tall.” James’ text is more than a bit treacly, but the illustrations help make up for it in their adorableness, which young readers and their mothers will eat up. Brown’s full-bleed, double-page spreads are spring-bright in pastel colors, and her animal characters are gently anthropomorphized in their activities and facial expressions. A book plaque in the front and section for a picture and a personally penned letter in the back make this a good choice for gift-giving.
In the end, this joins the crowded ranks of cute books in verse vying for new mothers’ attention and doesn’t really stand out (. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-58536-941-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2017
Though approaching the text is somewhat challenging, the combo of pets and children is appealing.
An amiable introduction to a menagerie of house pets.
Within this board book’s warmly illustrated pages, young readers meet and learn brief facts about a variety of fluffy, scaled, and feathered critters. Told in short sentences, this work of early nonfiction introduces readers to general types of house pets (cats, dogs, fish, reptiles, birds) and gives a few brief facts about several different species (parakeets, guppies, yellow-bellied sliders). It also reminds readers that pets are a big responsibility, requiring attention and vet care. Unfortunately, the book’s overall look is marred by inconsistent fonts and styles that break each page into choppy sections, making it difficult to read with ease. Factual, if unremarkable statements, like “Dogs are the most popular house pet,” are presented in a large font, while blurbs in a smaller font are more specific and engaging. Animal lovers will likely enjoy learning about cockatiels’ “colorful crest[s]” and how “they really like to whistle!” More consistent than the text are painterly, full-bleed illustrations that showcase the joy of pets. Children and adults who are diverse in skin tone visit an animal shelter, play with a Chihuahua, feed carrots to a thrilled hamster, and brush a pleased-looking cat. The warm, sunny palette with saturated backgrounds is especially appropriate when highlighting the small, precious moments of pet ownership, such as a beaming child hugging a pup. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Though approaching the text is somewhat challenging, the combo of pets and children is appealing. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: June 23, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-955834-46-9
Page Count: 22
Publisher: duopress/Sourcebooks
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2023
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