Made possible through a Kickstarter that funded 200% of the goal, this wonderfully illustrated book is a great way to get...
Author Scofield and Illustrator Dors introduce Jackie, a friendly looking, kid-shaped girl who celebrates her body for its usefulness and sensation—without ever looking or feeling objectified—in this poetry collection about the parts of the body.
“No one on earth has a body like mine. / It’s unique and rare and one of a kind,” Jackie announces. Her earnest love for her body and its uses—and her acceptance of all bodies as different and special—should welcome readers of all shapes and sizes from the first page. She follows that thought with an ode to her toes (which she can use for balancing or for drawing), her feet (which can feel the grass tickle or kick a ball), her ankles and knees, and on up the body. Each short poem (either one stanza or two) is accompanied by a crayon-drawn illustration of brown-haired, orange-and-yellow–dressed Jackie, whose interests include ballet, swimming, playing with her dog, archery, and practicing piano, among other things. The illustrations emphasize that girls can have many hobbies and skills, and they can enjoy both activewear and dressing up. The poems, some stronger than others, offer readers a way to appreciate the functions of each body part. In heart bubbles (also in yellow and orange), readers are asked questions about each body part: “How fast can your legs run?” or “Can you feel your heart beating in your chest?” To accommodate the placement of the questions, some of the stanzas feature broken lines, which may throw readers out of the rhythm of the poetry. Some rhymes are also a stretch: “chest / breath,” “me / feet,” etc. Still, the overall effect of the book—encouraging children to love and be comfortable in their own bodies—shines through.
Made possible through a Kickstarter that funded 200% of the goal, this wonderfully illustrated book is a great way to get young readers talking—and thinking—about their bodies in a positive way.Pub Date: Nov. 14, 2015
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Field of Dors
Review Posted Online: Oct. 13, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Little Blue Truck keeps on truckin’—but not without some backfires.
Little Blue Truck feels, well, blue when he delivers valentine after valentine but receives nary a one.
His bed overflowing with cards, Blue sets out to deliver a yellow card with purple polka dots and a shiny purple heart to Hen, one with a shiny fuchsia heart to Pig, a big, shiny, red heart-shaped card to Horse, and so on. With each delivery there is an exchange of Beeps from Blue and the appropriate animal sounds from his friends, Blue’s Beeps always set in blue and the animal’s vocalization in a color that matches the card it receives. But as Blue heads home, his deliveries complete, his headlight eyes are sad and his front bumper droops ever so slightly. Blue is therefore surprised (but readers may not be) when he pulls into his garage to be greeted by all his friends with a shiny blue valentine just for him. In this, Blue’s seventh outing, it’s not just the sturdy protagonist that seems to be wilting. Schertle’s verse, usually reliable, stumbles more than once; stanzas such as “But Valentine’s Day / didn’t seem much fun / when he didn’t get cards / from anyone” will cause hitches during read-alouds. The illustrations, done by Joseph in the style of original series collaborator Jill McElmurry, are pleasant enough, but his compositions often feel stiff and forced.
Little Blue Truck keeps on truckin’—but not without some backfires. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-358-27244-1
Page Count: 20
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
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Preserving the look of the classic board book—even to the trim size and rounded corners—this makeover folds new into old in such inventive ways that it may take more than a few passes to discover all the interactive features. Aboard a ship that rocks in response to a tilt of the tablet a set of animal passengers bounce belowdecks. First they take a bath featuring user-created bubbles, and then they brush their teeth using water so hot that the whole screen hazes up with wipe-able “steam.” Pajama-clad, all then wobble—or, tweaked by a finger, rocket—back outside for a bit of exercise before bed. (Readers control this part by twirling the moon.) In the finest animation of all, every touch of the night sky in the final scene brings a twinkling star into temporary being. Along with making small movements that resemble paper-engineered popup effects, Boynton’s wide eyed passengers also twitch or squeak (or both) when tapped. And though they don’t seem particularly sleepy or conducive to heavy lids, an optional reading by British singer Billy J. Kramer (whose well-traveled voice also pronounces each word individually at a touch), backed by soothing piano music, supplies an effectively soporific audio. “The day is done. / They say good night, / and somebody / turns off the light.” This is as beautiful as the developer’s earlier PopOut! Peter Rabbitwhile styling itself perfectly to Boynton's whimsy. (Ipad board-book app. 1-3)
None NonePub Date: March 7, 2011
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Loud Crow Interactive
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
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