An uneven introduction to the barnyard.
Little readers learn about the farm.
This board book employs over 50 words across five double-page spreads to teach little ones all about the farmyard. The words range from the obvious (cow, horse, pig) to those less commonly associated with the farmyard (rainbow, ball, kite). Each scene presents rounded, smiling animals done in a primary color palette that will certainly catch young eyes. However, the tableaux run the risk of being overstuffed. With at least 10 identified objects in each scene, the book rewards repeat readings but might overwhelm sensitive readers. A large die-cut window in the middle of the book that features different animals jutting into the frame on each recto does little to add to the experience, actually detracting from the composition of the scenery. Jungle 123, which publishes concurrently, uses a similar format to explore the jungle and count tigers, monkeys, and other jungle animals.
An uneven introduction to the barnyard. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: May 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0260-3
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
Slim? Fleeting? Predictable? Yes, but the youngest listeners won’t mind. Sure to inspire lots of cuddles and lip smacks....
Murphy (Utterly Lovely One, 2011) produces another bright slip of a title just right for the youngest toddlers.
With a Valentine-ready cover in red, pink and white and amusing split-page flaps revealing a silly series of animal kisses, this book will be a popular gift for little ones. Each spread features a vibrantly hued child/parent pair of creatures, including giraffes, mice, fish, bees, elephants, owls and bunnies. The black, smudgy hand-lettered text describes the different kinds of kisses: “gentle and tall,” “fuzzy and buzzy” and “long and toot-tooty.” Each phrase ends with an ellipsis prompting readers to flip the half page to reveal “like this!” and an eyes-closed buss. By the book’s end, all the pairs are busy smooching. “My, oh my—look! Everybody’s kissing! / Now there’s only one kiss missing…. // Your kiss! / Like this!”
Slim? Fleeting? Predictable? Yes, but the youngest listeners won’t mind. Sure to inspire lots of cuddles and lip smacks. (Picture book. 1-3)Pub Date: Dec. 11, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6182-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Oct. 9, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2012
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
With so many exquisite titles currently in board-book format, caregivers can safely skip this and its companion.
Little Bird looks everywhere for his lost song.
When his best efforts fail to produce even a “cheep,” Little Bird checks his music box, but his song is not there. Next, he checks the radio, a record player (really!), a clock, and the teakettle, but he doesn’t find his song in those places either. Strangely enough, while readers learn that these items don’t contain or produce Little Bird’s song, they don’t get to hear what sounds they do make (with the exception of the teakettle’s “whistling sound”). Then, in the bewildering conclusion to this tale, Little Bird finds that he can chirp again because his friends have joined forces to knit a long scarf to keep him warm. There is no previous indication that Little Bird is cold, and this odd resolution seems designed to wrap up the tale with a lesson on the benefits of friendship, a valuable lesson indeed but one that is here unearned and misplaced. Published simultaneously, The Little Bear Who Lost Her Way also suffers from an unconvincing and less-than-compelling storyline. The soft, appealing illustrations and lift-the-flap interactivity serve both titles well but are not enough to tip the scales in their favor.
With so many exquisite titles currently in board-book format, caregivers can safely skip this and its companion. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: May 5, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0093-7
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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