A sweet metaliterary journey takes a girl and her stuffed polar bear on a fanciful trip through a variety of terrains before they return to her bedroom. The adventure begins on the title page, where readers see the wide-eyed little girl sitting in bed, holding the very book they are reading. The child addresses her bear directly in verse, each page turn revealing a bright, new, softly rounded landscape: “Swing through the trees from a dangling vine. / Forge through a desert where stars shimmer and shine.” Careful readers will spot the little girl following the fuzzy white bear along, watching from behind trees and hills as the broadly smiling bear enjoys each moment. Mack’s genial, soft-edged bear is the star attraction in this lulling tale; the verse abets each page turn but definitely takes second billing to the images. Children will find it a literal breath of fresh air as the peripatetic bear crawls in the window to curl up on the now-slumbering girl’s pillow. In a world full of bedtime books, this one has a place. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-59643-368-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2008
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS
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The odyssey of ducklings venturing forth from their comfortable nests into the big world resonates with children and has been a well-traveled subject of many works geared toward young readers. Thompson’s (Mouse’s First Valentine, 2002, etc.) latest effort will certainly appeal to youngsters despite its lack of originality. Mama Duck is coaxing her five hesitant ducklings (Widdle, Waddle, Piddle, Puddle, and Little Quack) into the water one at a time. A “quack-u-lator” at the bottom of the pages adds an interesting mathematical element, helping children count along as ducklings jump into the pond. Mama encourages each nervous duckling to “paddle on the water with me . . . you can do it . . . I know you can.” Overcoming their initial fright, the first four ducklings “splish, splash, sploosh, and splosh” happily into the water. The simple tale’s climax occurs when Little Quack wavers at the water’s edge. “Could he do it? Did he dare?” Not to spoil the ending, but suffice it to say all five ducklings swim off “proud as can be.” In his debut effort, Anderson’s bright and colorful illustrations are lively and captivating. The five adorable ducklings embark on this rite of passage sporting unique looks ranging from Mohawk-type head feathers to orange spots and flowered hair adornments. A pleasant enough take on an old standby. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-689-84723-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2002
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS
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Peppa hopes to join her classmates in a Halloween pumpkin competition in this adaptation of a story from the popular British television program Peppa Pig.
With the help of Granny and Grandpa Pig, Peppa turns her giant pumpkin, which is the size of a compact car, into a jack-o’-lantern. The trio is flummoxed when it comes time to transport the pumpkin to the competition, so they call on Miss Rabbit and her helicopter to airlift the pumpkin to the festivities as Peppa and her grandparents ride inside. Peppa arrives just in time for the contest and wins the prize for best flying pumpkin. The scenes look as if they are pulled directly from the television show, right down to the rectangular framing of some of the scenes. While the story is literally nothing new, the text is serviceable, describing the action in two to three sentences per page. The pumpkin-shaped book and orange foil cover will likely attract youngsters, whether they are Peppa fans or not.
This TV rerun in board-book form has nothing new to offer. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 30, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-33922-2
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS
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