A satisfying jungle tale for young readers and listeners.
Who ever heard of a snake that can’t hiss?
When he is born, Seth is eagerly welcomed by his mother and the other jungle animals. Then he says his first word: “Shhhhhhh!”—which is met with surprise and derision by all but his mother (“I think you sssound beautiful,” she says). Colorful illustrations of the friendly, childlike animals spill across the pages, while the embarrassed baby snake slithers quietly into his hole and the jungle’s other occupants begin to discuss what sort of gift they’ll give him. Should it be a toothbrush? A feather? A branch? A tasty morsel? Maybe a party? Loud squabbling ensues, until Seth pops back up. Is there anything he can do? And what exactly would he like for a present? Young readers and listeners will enjoy the gently humorous story and identify with the shy snake’s first challenge. This warm and comforting book about embracing individuality and respecting others includes extension ideas for parents and teachers so that children can investigate and further explore the messages contained therein.
A satisfying jungle tale for young readers and listeners. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: July 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-60992-725-7
Page Count: 24
Publisher: QEB Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2015
Parents of toddlers starting school or day care should seek separation-anxiety remedies elsewhere, and fans of the original...
A sweetened, condensed version of the best-selling picture book, The Kissing Hand.
As in the original, Chester Raccoon is nervous about attending Owl’s night school (raccoons are nocturnal). His mom kisses him on the paw and reminds him, “With a Kissing Hand… / We’ll never be apart.” The text boils the story down to its key elements, causing this version to feel rushed. Gone is the list of fun things Chester will get to do at school. Fans of the original may be disappointed that this board edition uses a different illustrator. Gibson’s work is equally sentimental, but her renderings are stiff and flat in comparison to the watercolors of Harper and Leak. Very young readers will probably not understand that Owl’s tree, filled with opossums, a squirrel, a chipmunk and others, is supposed to be a school.
Parents of toddlers starting school or day care should seek separation-anxiety remedies elsewhere, and fans of the original shouldn’t look to this version as replacement for their page-worn copies. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-933718-77-4
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Tanglewood Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery.
A troop of cats traverse a spooky landscape as they make their way to a party hosted by ghosts.
Each double-page spread shows the felines’ encounters with the likes of an owl, jack-o’-lanterns or a bat. One or two of these creepy meetings may be too abstract for the youngest readers, as the cats hear eerie noises with no discernible source on the page. The text, which consists of one rhyming couplet per scene, mostly scans despite a couple of wobbles: “Five black cats get a bit of a scare / As the flip-flapping wings of a bat fill the air.” The sleek, slightly retro art, likely created using a computer, depicts the cats cavorting at night through a shadowy cityscape, the countryside and a haunted house; they may scare some toddlers and delight others. A brighter color palette would have given the project a friendlier, more universal appeal. Luckily, the well-lit, final party scene provides a playful conclusion.
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-58925-611-8
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
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