A sweetly engaging book powered simply by imagination and a turn of the page.
Little Rabbit has fallen over and injured his elbow. It hurts!
Having helped to put Little Rabbit to bed (Tickle My Ears, 2016) and also to give him a bath (Bathtime for Little Rabbit, 2017), in this new installment readers are now asked to help Little Rabbit feel better. Tapping into a toddler’s developing sense of empathy, the author talks directly to children as he guides them through the actions that will help Little Rabbit. As the little white rabbit with a tear on his face shows off a bruised, red elbow, readers are asked to “Try blowing on it—wfff, wfff, wfff.” With the turn of the page, readers see their blowing didn’t help; Little Rabbit is bleeding. As he cries even harder, the author suggests children put a band-aid on. Turn the page, and—“Perfect!”—the crying has subsided somewhat, but a little more comforting is needed. A “magic rhyme,” perhaps: “Rock-a-bye bunny, in the treetop.” The hurt bunny is still crying so readers are asked to stroke his ears. “Thank you, that worked!” Now it’s time to wipe away the tears and blow his nose. “Very good!” The only thing remaining is to brush off the dirt and send Little Rabbit on his way. Little Rabbit’s feelings are so apparent in the expressive cartoon illustrations that young readers will easily connect with him.
A sweetly engaging book powered simply by imagination and a turn of the page. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-77657-177-2
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Gecko Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead.
An Easter-themed board-book parody of the traditional nursery rhyme.
Unfortunately, this effort is just as sugary and uninspired as The Itsy Bitsy Snowman, offered by the same pair in 2015. A cheerful white bunny hops through a pastel world to distribute candy and treats for Easter but spills his baskets. A hedgehog, fox, mouse, and various birds come to the bunny’s rescue, retrieving the candy, helping to devise a distribution plan, and hiding the eggs. Then magically, they all fly off in a hot air balloon as the little animals in the village emerge to find the treats. Without any apparent purpose, the type changes color to highlight some words. For very young children every word is new, so highlighting “tiny tail” or “friends” makes no sense. Although the text is meant to be sung, the words don't quite fit the rhythm of the original song. Moreover, there are not clear motions to accompany the text; without the fingerplay movements, this book has none of the satisfying verve of the traditional version.
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-5621-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.
This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.
Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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