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POCO AND MOCO ARE TWINS

Name: POCO AND MOCO ARE TWINS
Author: Jun Ichihara
ISBN: 978-1-940842-19-6

by Jun Ichihara ; illustrated by Jun Ichihara ; translated by Mariko Shii Gharbi ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2018

Not groundbreaking, yet Poco and Moco’s adorableness will satisfy the toddler set.

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This Japanese import uses twins to highlight the concepts of similarities and differences and cooperation.

Brother Poco and sister Moco are twin lambs, but this anthropomorphized pair isn’t put to pasture. In digital, geometric artwork set against brightly colored backgrounds, the siblings sport oversized pink faces with even rosier cheeks and puffy, white wool around their heads and torsos. At first glance the siblings appear identical, yet observant children will notice such subtle differences as mouth shape and nose color. Ichihara establishes their friendship as the twins share bathtime, snack time, and even accidents. The focus of this diminutive book for small hands, however, is the twins’ differences. For instance, boy Poco stands to urinate and loves bread, while girl Moco sits on the toilet and claims dessert as her favorite food. Flaps, foldouts, cutouts, and seek-and-find spreads add fun, revealing Poco’s chubby belly, messy room, and talent for hide-and-seek and Moco’s thin belly, neat room, and ability to climb trees. Although stereotypical blues and pinks are used according to Poco’s and Moco’s genders, it’s Poco who wants to be a chef and Moco an astronaut. Despite their differences, these best of friends work together when cooperation means everyone gets a bite of doughnut and an even taller tower of blocks.

Not groundbreaking, yet Poco and Moco’s adorableness will satisfy the toddler set. (Picture book. 2-4)

Pub Date: April 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-940842-19-6

Page Count: 38

Publisher: Museyon

Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
MOIMOI―LOOK AT ME!
by Kazuo Hiraki ; illustrated by Jun Ichihara

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EVERYWHERE YOU ARE

by Victoria Monét ; illustrated by Alea Marley ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 24, 2025

A soothing bedtime reminder of a parent’s unconditional love.

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Grammy Award–winning singer/songwriter Monét’s picture-book debut reassures the very young that their caregivers are always watching over them.

A smiling yellow star watches the equally cheerful moon; both are heavily anthropomorphized, with eyelashes for the moon and pink cheeks for the star. A page turn reveals the star, now downcast and in the corner of a mostly dark spread: “Sometimes the sky is dark and you can’t see the moon at all.” The following spread, depicting a sparkly sky with both characters back in view, reminds children that the moon is there, even when it’s not visible: “Think of me as the moon / It’s always in the sky / Just like I will forever be / a bright light in your life.” Both orbs beam. “I’ll always be your moon / You’ll always be my star / Just keep me in your heart and / I’ll be everywhere you are.” This becomes the refrain after a few more verses that continue the theme of the moon as a metaphor for emotionally present, ever-loving caregivers. Little ones will happily repeat the words as they’re lulled to sleep. The book ends with a heartfelt dedication from the author to her daughter and to parents who balance caregiving duties with careers. Monét notes that she set out to show children that their parents’ devotion endures no matter what—a goal achieved by both text and art.

A soothing bedtime reminder of a parent’s unconditional love. (Picture book. 2-4)

Pub Date: June 24, 2025

ISBN: 9780593698419

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- SEEN & HEARD
Victoria Monét Talks Kids’ Book on ‘CBS Mornings’

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I AM A BIG BROTHER

by Caroline Jayne Church ; illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 27, 2015

A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an...

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A little boy exults in his new role as big brother.

Rhyming text describes the arrival of a new baby and all of the big brother’s rewarding new duties. He gets to help with feedings, diaper changes, playtime, bathtime, and naptime. Though the rhyming couplets can sometimes feel a bit forced and awkward, the sentiment is sweet, as the focus here never veers from the excitement and love a little boy feels for his tiny new sibling. The charming, uncluttered illustrations convincingly depict the growing bond between this fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked, smiling pair of boys. In the final pages, the parents, heretofore kept mostly out of view, are pictured holding the children. The accompanying text reads: “Mommy, Daddy, baby, me. / We love each other—a family!” In companion volume I Am a Big Sister, the little boy is replaced with a little girl with bows in her hair. Some of the colors and patterns in the illustrations are slightly altered, but it is essentially the same title.

A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an older sibling can do to help. (Board book. 2-4)