With so many exquisite titles currently in board-book format, caregivers can safely skip this and its companion.
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A basic but effective read from the far north.
Little readers get a primer on Arctic critters.
In this simple board book, each double-page spread presents a photograph of an animal in its natural surroundings to the left and an isolated animal image against a solid-colored background with descriptive text on the right. The text identifies the animal in three ways: first with Inuktitut characters, then the Romanized Inuktitut word, and finally an English translation of the word. Animals included are the ptarmigan, wolf, polar bear, eider duck, lemming, bearded seal, caribou, and arctic fox. This is a book targeted at Inuit families as well as more southerly parents who hope to expose their little ones to other cultures as early as possible. The stock photographs are handsome, and although the format and presentation are pretty basic, it is not a bland book by any stretch. The variety of animals and cool new sounds on display go a long way for readers unfamiliar with the climate. Similar titles Marine Animals and Inuit Tools are also available, the latter title featuring clear drawings instead of photographs.
A basic but effective read from the far north. (Board book. 18 mos.-2)Pub Date: July 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-9270-9585-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Inhabit Media
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
PERSPECTIVES
Flutterby Butterfly’s mild mystery makes for good, interactive fun
This interactive board book is actually sturdy enough for young children to manipulate.
Little fingers will find the sliders on each page are easy to move up and down or side to side to reveal the answer to a simple mystery: “Where is Flutterby Butterfly?” Die-cut sliders reveal a tortoise, a snail, a scarecrow, and more before readers find the title character on the final page. The cheerful 1960s mod art–style illustrations line up nicely with the interactive elements on both the front and back of each page, doubling the fun. The picture on each page hints at the critter that will be revealed by the slide. Descriptive vocabulary introduces new words while relying on the illustrations to define the words through context. Companion title Hoppity Frog follows the same format but is marred by biome confusion. The question “Is he in the coral?” presents a saltwater environment while the rest of the book is set in freshwater habitats, where the vast majority of frog species reside. While this probably does not matter to the board-book audience, it should to parents, teachers, and librarians concerned with presenting their young charges with scientific accuracy. Respect the child: accuracy trumps cuteness.
Flutterby Butterfly’s mild mystery makes for good, interactive fun . (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: April 21, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0029-6
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
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