Young children will be captivated by the exceptional illustrations but not much more
Well-known backyard animals and their immediate surroundings are represented in this beautifully illustrated board book.
Six different animals common to suburban and rural environments are presented in simple text and realistic illustrations. Meet a robin, a honeybee, a toad, a rabbit, a squirrel, and a mole. Each double-page spread of the board book is dedicated to one animal, culminating in the final one, where all are present. Though it does not detract from the book, it is of interest to note that the robin depicted is not an American robin but a European robin. The text, though short and simple, is language-rich: “TOAD slurps a fly with its long, sticky tongue”; “MOLE finds worms as it tunnels underground.” The real pride of place in the book goes to the illustrations. Done in liquid acrylics, each painting is exact to the last detail and beautiful. Unfortunately though, the book falls just short of the mark, as both the text and the illustrations are just descriptive rather than informative, thereby sparking neither curiosity nor imagination. Young readers will probably not come back for repeat readings.
Young children will be captivated by the exceptional illustrations but not much more . (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 8, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-56846-287-5
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Creative Editions/Creative Company
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
The slightly didactic message of tolerance and inclusiveness is made palatable by the gardening analogy, and this book will...
This attractive picture book for the very young from accomplished illustrator and debut author Gillingham explores a thoughtful analogy between gardening and friendship.
The parallels between growing things and making new friends are illustrated with simple instructions, matched with Gillingham’s pastel-shaded woodcut-and-collaged illustrations. Just like seeds and plants, friendships need to be sown, tended and cultivated. “A friend needs water… / warm sunshine… // and space to bloom.” It is a two-way process: “To grow a friend, talk / and listen”; “Good friends stand by each other in rain / or shine.” With friendships, as with flowers, things can go wrong: “Sometimes a friend bugs you.” (Bugs literally buzz around their heads on a page where the friends are wrestling for control of a potted plant.) But “[t]o grow a friend, / chase the bugs away together!” The girl finds a solution to their argument by giving the boy a ride in a wheelbarrow. A subtly diverse selection of kids and adults are portrayed enjoying one another’s company and working together to cultivate their gardens. Children, flowers, birds, trees and seasons are skillfully illustrated using multicolored patterns and shapes that will have considerable visual appeal for preschoolers.
The slightly didactic message of tolerance and inclusiveness is made palatable by the gardening analogy, and this book will encourage young friendships to bloom. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-385-37669-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Sept. 30, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2014
An irresistible glimpse at the delights of spring.
Kurilla’s latest seasonal tale explores the ways the world comes back to life after winter.
The author/illustrator explores the hallmarks of spring: rainy days, the reemergence of animals and insects, the appearance of buds and blooms, and holidays like Easter, Passover, and Mother’s Day. The rhyming verse bounces along, exhorting readers to take part in all the season has to offer: “Grow flowers for the bumblebees. / Hang a feeder. / Plant some trees.” “Crack a baseball! / Fly a kite! / Enjoy the extra spring sunlight.” The concise text and exuberant tone result in a book that’s just right for the eager ears of the toddler and preschool crowd. Kurilla’s cartoonish illustrations are a standout, too. Filled with greens and blues as well as pops of pink and yellow, they truly evoke spring’s charms. An especially enticing spread perfectly captures the joys of the season: A child bikes through a puddle, a youngster in a wheelchair blows bubbles that rise to the top of the page, and two kids in the background stomp in the mud. Kurilla varies page compositions, alternating vignettes with full-page spreads; her visuals pair well with her text while encouraging readers to linger over details. The cast is diverse in terms of skin color, hairstyle, and ability.
An irresistible glimpse at the delights of spring. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
ISBN: 9780316570152
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
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