A perfectly pleasant interactive read for pale-skinned toddlers.
The Finger Worms participate in a variety of athletic competitions.
This humorously playful book encourages little readers to draw a smiley face on the tip of a finger (or to have their parents do it for them) and poke it through the die-cut holes and slots in the pages to form the face of a supplied body and interact with the text. The Finger Worms box, do high jumps and high dives, and even race. The book’s construction is fairly intuitive, and with little coaxing, little ones will be able to pick up the book and easily figure out what they need to do in order to make their Finger Worms the greatest. Adults with large hands may have a tough time; the finger holes and their placements work best for young readers. The illustrations are stripped down to the basics, with simple lines and primary colors. Artsy readers will surely be inspired to craft their own finger sports arenas on drawing paper. This is a read that will do OK in the story stack but thrive as an arts-and-crafts instigator. In companion title The Finger Travel Game, the Finger Worms travel by air to Paris before taking to the mountains for skiing, a submarine, a sailboat, Egypt (by camel), and even outer space. The generously sized holes in the pages are in the same place throughout the entire book, so even the largest hands can participate. In both titles, the Finger Worms are all Caucasian, limiting the book’s appeal.
A perfectly pleasant interactive read for pale-skinned toddlers. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 21, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7148-6979-7
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Phaidon
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
A satisfying package that will indeed keep toddlers busy—exemplary.
The latest addition to the World of Eric Carle is proof that the Wilder Award–winning picture-book creator knows what appeals to children.
This board book is both developmentally appropriate and aesthetically pleasing—perfect for toddlers. In a sturdy, oversize (10 1/2 inches square) format, Carle recycles iconic images from his vast canon to introduce shapes, colors, numbers, animals, and sounds. The flower on the cover is almost (but not quite) identical to the flower that grows from The Tiny Seed (1970). Seeing the animals throughout the pages is like recognizing old friends. But Carle and the book’s designer, Hannah Frece, put these familiar images to fresh uses to create a logical, accessible, and harmonious concept book. Although billed as a “busy book,” it is not hyperactive, using just five or six images per spread. From the mirror that lights up the sun on the cover to the touch-and-feel inserts on the page about animals to the single flap that hides a mouse from a cat, the tactile elements have been chosen with intention instead of just as gimmicks. On other pages, foils and textures are subtle, with many barely raised images that invite tracing.
A satisfying package that will indeed keep toddlers busy—exemplary. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Dec. 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4814-5791-0
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Nov. 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
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BOOK REVIEW
While the ghoulies here are more cute than scary, “jump,” “quiver,” and “run” will probably get across the idea to even the...
An abecedary of spooky or autumnal delights for the littlest readers.
Each letter of the alphabet is highlighted on a single page, the upper- and lowercase letters appearing in the upper left-hand corner, while the object is named at the bottom or in the upper right. Ho keeps her illustrations simple and places them against plain, brightly colored backgrounds, keeping them accessible to those still learning about Halloween’s many icons. The almost-fluorescent orange cover is sure to attract attention, and the palette of black, purple, orange, yellow, and radioactive green enhances the Halloween mood. But while many of the chosen items will be expected—bats, ghost, haunted house, owl, skeleton, vampire, witch, zombie—others are rather odd choices. J is for “jump,” not jack-o’-lantern (“pumpkin” is illustrated with a jack-o’-lantern); K is for a mostly black “kitten” standing in a coffin; and N is for “nightmare,” which is virtually impossible to express visually for this age group without provoking said nightmare. Here, a lavender-skinned child (zombie?) in pajamas and nightcap has arms raised and mouth open wide in surprise—perhaps in response to the mummy across the gutter? The tough letters use “quiver,” spider-decorated “underpants” on a monster, and “extra treats,” the x underlined.
While the ghoulies here are more cute than scary, “jump,” “quiver,” and “run” will probably get across the idea to even the youngest listeners that Halloween can be scary. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 18, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9527-9
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: Aug. 6, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018
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