bookshelf

THE LITTLE BIRD WHO LOST HIS SONG

Name: THE LITTLE BIRD WHO LOST HIS SONG
Author: Jedda Robaard
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0093-7

by Jedda Robaard ; illustrated by Jedda Robaard ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2015

With so many exquisite titles currently in board-book format, caregivers can safely skip this and its companion.

bookshelf

Little Bird looks everywhere for his lost song.

When his best efforts fail to produce even a “cheep,” Little Bird checks his music box, but his song is not there. Next, he checks the radio, a record player (really!), a clock, and the teakettle, but he doesn’t find his song in those places either. Strangely enough, while readers learn that these items don’t contain or produce Little Bird’s song, they don’t get to hear what sounds they do make (with the exception of the teakettle’s “whistling sound”). Then, in the bewildering conclusion to this tale, Little Bird finds that he can chirp again because his friends have joined forces to knit a long scarf to keep him warm. There is no previous indication that Little Bird is cold, and this odd resolution seems designed to wrap up the tale with a lesson on the benefits of friendship, a valuable lesson indeed but one that is here unearned and misplaced. Published simultaneously, The Little Bear Who Lost Her Way also suffers from an unconvincing and less-than-compelling storyline. The soft, appealing illustrations and lift-the-flap interactivity serve both titles well but are not enough to tip the scales in their favor.

With so many exquisite titles currently in board-book format, caregivers can safely skip this and its companion. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: May 5, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4998-0093-7

Page Count: 10

Publisher: Little Bee Books

Review Posted Online: May 11, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
IF MY MOM WERE A BIRD
by Jedda Robaard ; illustrated by Jedda Robaard

- BOOK REVIEW
MILO AND MILLIE
by Jedda Robaard ; illustrated by Jedda Robaard

bookshelf

SMILE, POUT-POUT FISH

by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2014

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.

bookshelf

This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.

Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE AND THE HALLOWEEN SCARIES
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE MADE 32 MISTAKES
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE AND THE CLASSROOM JITTERS
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

bookshelf

LLAMA LLAMA TRICK OR TREAT

From the Llama Llama series

by Anna Dewdney ; illustrated by Anna Dewdney ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 19, 2014

bookshelf

In this board book designed for the littlest llama lovers, adorable-as-ever Llama Llama (Llama Llama Red Pajama, 2005, etc.) gets ready for some Halloween fun.

Dewdney’s characteristic spare, apt rhymes convey a lot of action in effortlessly readable fashion. A charming and simple introduction to Halloween and its associated activities, this title finds little Llama Llama choosing and carving a pumpkin, pouring candy into bowls, picking out a costume and, finally, trick-or-treating. The costume Llama Llama decides to don—pointy teeth and a black mask and cape—is enough to frighten and fool his friends but not readers, who will immediately recognize and smile at the silly little mini-Dracula. With Dewdney’s characters as expressive as ever, young readers will be drawn right into the holiday fun, eagerly anticipating which costume Llama Llama will choose and excited to see him scare his friends and score some candy at trick-or-treat. In the equally appealing companion title, Llama Llama Jingle Bells,the little fellow gets ready for Christmas, baking and decorating some cookies in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. This simple holiday title will win Llama Llama new fans, and old friends will want to add it and its companion to their collections. (Board book. 1-2)