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EXOTIC FRUIT

Name: EXOTIC FRUIT
Author: Huy Voun Lee
ISBN: 978-1-4549-2802-7

by Huy Voun Lee ; illustrated by Huy Voun Lee ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2018

A great way to vary tots’ reading diets.

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Do you know your fruit? Vibrant digital illustrations and a few interesting facts introduce nine unusual fruits that are literally “exotic,” as in not indigenous to the United States.

On recto, the fruit is seen in its natural form, whole and uncut on a contrasting background, with the name of the fruit coordinated by color (“mangosteen” is written in dark purple, for instance). That word is embedded in a sentence that describes the fruit as it looks and feels from the outside (“DRAGON FRUIT’s bright pink skin and green leaves resemble the body of a Chinese dragon”). Turn the page to see that same fruit cut or peeled, with the inside showing, and simple information about the color, shape, taste, texture, and fragrance of the fruit. (“But inside, [the lychee’s] clear flesh is sugary. Its musky smell can fill up a whole room.”) The region of origin of each fruit is mentioned on the second page along with a “fun fact” or alternative name. All the information is basic and age-appropriate. The digital illustrations are bold, colorful, and realistic. A brief note on the last page mentions where U.S. readers might find these fruits. It’s hard to get a sense of the fruits’ relative sizes, but that is a small gripe and does not detract from the punch of the book.

A great way to vary tots’ reading diets. (Board book. 2-5)

Pub Date: April 10, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-4549-2802-7

Page Count: 22

Publisher: Sterling

Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
LIKE A DANDELION
by Huy Voun Lee ; illustrated by Huy Voun Lee

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MAGIC BRUSH
by Kat Yeh & illustrated by Huy Voun Lee

- BOOK REVIEW
FIRE DRILL
by Paul Dubois Jacobs & Jennifer Swender & illustrated by Huy Voun Lee

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HEADS AND TAILS

by John Canty ; illustrated by John Canty ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 23, 2018

A clever conceit but a bland execution.

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In this minimalist Australian import, readers are encouraged to guess animals based on select written and visual clues.

On each recto, readers see the hindquarters of an animal, and three simple clues ask them to guess what kind of animal they may belong to. “I have long furry ears and a small nose. / I live in a burrow in the ground. / I have a white fluffy tail. / I AM A….” The splashy watercolor rear legs and tail are ambiguous enough that they may have readers second-guessing the obvious answer. Turning the page, however, readers discover both the well-defined front half of the animal and the animal’s name: “RABBIT.” Canty uses stock 19th-century animal illustrations layered with watercolor enhancements, creating a somber yet surprising tone. Two tailless animals, a frog and human readers, are included in the roster, making the “tails” referenced in the title symbolic rather than literal. Two red herrings, the image of a mouse between the clues for and image of an elephant and (inexplicably) a squirrel leading to a giraffe, fall flat, with no other cues to young readers that they are jokes. The quirky illustrations, earthy colors, and lack of exhibited enthusiasm will make this book’s audience a niche one. There is no backmatter.

A clever conceit but a bland execution. (Informational picture book. 2-5)

Pub Date: Oct. 23, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5362-0033-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: July 29, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
SHAPES AND COLORS
by John Canty ; illustrated by John Canty

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THE HUMAN BODY

From the PlayTabs series

by Stéphanie Babin ; illustrated by Ilaria Falorsi ; translated by Wendeline A. Hardenberg ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2019

Genial starter nonfiction.

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Panels activated by sliding tabs introduce youngsters to the human body.

The information is presented in matter-of-fact narration and captioned, graphically simple art featuring rounded lines, oversized heads and eyes, and muted colors. The sliding panels reveal new scenes on both sides of the page, and arrows on the large tabs indicate the direction to pull them (some tabs work left and right and others up and down). Some of the tabs show only slight changes (a white child reaches for a teddy bear, demonstrating how arms and hands work), while others are much more surprising (a different white child runs to a door and on the other side of the panel is shown sitting on the toilet). The double-page spreads employ broad themes as organizers, such as “Your Body,” “Eating Right,” and “Taking Care of Your Body.” Much of the content is focused on the outside of the body, but one panel does slide to reveal an X-ray image of a skeleton. While there are a few dark brown and amber skin tones, it is mostly white children who appear in the pages to demonstrate body movements, self-care, visiting the doctor, senses, and feelings. The companion volume, Baby Animals, employs the same style of sliding panels to introduce youngsters to little critters and their parents, from baboons to penguins.

Genial starter nonfiction. (Board book. 2-5)