by Janet Morgan Stoeke & illustrated by Janet Morgan Stoeke ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 2000
Stoeke’s (A Friend For Minerva Louise, 1997, etc.) inquisitive chicken returns for another adventure when she visits a nearby fair. With a smile on her beak, the nosy hen ambles off to investigate the loud noises disrupting the evening serenity at her farm: “BOOM! That’s not a cricket. BOOM!” Preschoolers are in for a treat, getting to see a country fair through the naïve chicken’s eyes: to Minerva Louise, fireworks are stars falling from the sky, and the Ferris wheel is a star-bedecked bulldozer. Humor abounds as the inimitable chicken ambles past game booths, the mirrored fun house, and the carousel. Whimsical puns are just right for pint-sized audiences; Minerva thinks the stuffed-animal prizes at the booth are “stuffy old roosters” and that the gourd-judging tent is filled with sleeping hens. Exhausted from her meanderings, Minerva Louise searches for the hen house for a nice little nap. Settling in with some rabbits, she awakes the next morning to discover her owner joyfully hugging her. The pictures tell the real story . . . Minerva had settled herself into the judging tent and has won the blue ribbon denoting first place. Brief sentences combined with gentle humor and large, bright illustrations are ideal for read-aloud sessions. Despite being simply drawn, Minerva Louise radiates oodles of charm. This latest escapade is a delight both for newcomers and those already familiar with the plucky hen. (Picture book. 2-6)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-525-46439-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2000
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by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
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by Christopher Silas Neal ; illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2018
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.
You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!
What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0534-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
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