A sweet but not essential book.
A whole host of children presents a whole host of balls in this new installment in the Baby Unplugged series.
There are so many kinds of balls in this little board book. Big ball, shiny ball, game ball, plain ball, spot ball. And not all are necessarily balls. Some are round objects, like the snowball and the clay ball or the blueberry that is a “tiny ball.” Some balls are verb balls, like the “throw ball, / catch ball, / go ball, / fetch ball!” There is even a gotcha! ball that’s “not ball”—it’s a cube! And all these balls are being played with by an equally eclectic group of children. African-American, Asian, brown-skinned, and blond and brunette white children are all represented here in illustrations that are charming and clear but not particularly artful. It feels as though both author and illustrator are trying so hard to include so much that they’ve almost forgotten to have fun. It’s reminiscent of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish but without the spark that turns an OK book into a timeless classic. Best suited for young children who are already quite verbal.
A sweet but not essential book. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: April 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-936669-42-4
Page Count: 14
Publisher: blue manatee press
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
These busy arrangements require an older audience and a different format.
Though bright and bold, this exploration of color demonstrates a dreary understanding of tots' abilities.
Clearly recognizable photographs, several to a spread, present both objects regularly associated with specific colors (yellow school bus, red ladybug) and those that occur in many hues (crayon, flower). Each color is introduced in a clear spread that features several labeled objects, while the following spread asks the audience to find items of that color in a crowded scene full of like choices. “This is candy for a special after-dinner treat. Can you find everything orange?” The scattering of orange-peel candies and an array of gumdrops and jelly beans in eye-poppingly bright shades makes it difficult to distinguish among the treats. Each of these spreads also presents a factoid in an inset circle that lacks any context for the toddling set. “GUESS WHAT? / It takes 7 to 21 days to make a jellybean.” Companion title Same and Different requires a similarly advanced skill set, asking listeners to "spot the difference."
These busy arrangements require an older audience and a different format. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: June 12, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4263-0929-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: National Geographic
Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A cute, serviceable game.
The iconic white cat enjoys the summer season.
Hello Kitty is here to soak up the sun and appreciate all that summertime has to offer in this mix-and-match board book. The book's split pages make it possible for readers to fiddle around with Kitty's outfits, scenery, and activities. It's entirely possible to read the book straight through and witness sensible situations, such as Kitty playing baseball and hitting home runs and dressing up as a bee for the summer parade, but it's better fun to make the character dress up like a bee to hit a home run. The pictures are all on recto, with the text on verso also flipping with the flaps: “Hello Kitty goes swimming / to get some yummy ice cream.” The book's binding is solidly constructed and will certainly stand up to several mix and matches. This one would probably serve well as a travel book for little ones to play with in the car on the way to their own summer adventures.
A cute, serviceable game. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: May 5, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0047-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
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