A pleaser for younger lovers of animals and visual puzzles alike.
In a series of forest scenes, dozens of animals hiding within foliage, in treetops, underwater, and belowground challenge sharp-eyed viewers to pick them out.
Some are easier to find than others: among the creatures that flit in and out of view in the course of a day, a panda, for instance, and the hyena (this is not a real forest but a sort of tropical composite) stand out in several scenes. Also, along with direct hints (“watch out for that mosquito!”), the accompanying comments feature questions like “But where is the wood louse?” that prompt young explorers to look under the one large, shaped flap on each spread. The underside of the flap provides further prompts: “See the centipedes running? The scarab and tarantula in their holes?” Brunellière depicts both flora and fauna using bright colors, flattened perspectives, and similar lines and shapes to make spotting the animals a decent challenge. They are all easily recognizable, though, and overall create a sort of community—particularly toward the end, as they uniformly drowse off at sunset and become dimly visible shapes with glowing eyes in the moonlit close. Though this oversized book consists of but 14 board pages, this is not a book for infants, but patient toddler- or preschooler-and-adult pairs should find plenty to enjoy.
A pleaser for younger lovers of animals and visual puzzles alike. (visual index) (Board book. 2-5)Pub Date: March 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4197-2351-3
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.
You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!
What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0534-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
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