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SPRING BABIES

Name: SPRING BABIES
Author: Kathryn O. Galbraith
ISBN: 978-1-68263-068-6

From the Babies in the Park series

by Kathryn O. Galbraith ; illustrated by Adela Pons ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2019

With its companions, a sweet and cheery introduction to the seasons for the youngest readers.

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A group of toddlers and their pup enjoy the change of seasons playing in a park.

Readers were introduced to this group of toddlers—one black, one brown, one olive-skinned, and one white—and their dog in Autumn Babies and Winter Babies (both 2018). The series concludes as the toddlers continue to enjoy the park in spring and, in the companion title, summer. In spring, the lollipop-shaped trees in the park sport vibrant shades of green and bright fuchsia. “Rain drops. / Dandelions glow. // Puddles splash. / Clouds blow.” And the babies “crawl,” “wiggle,” “scamper,” and “giggle.” As cute yellow-and-white birds sing, a baby peeks from behind a tree, a duck family swims in the pond, and the dog sleeps. The book concludes as a baby peeks out from a lush crop of dandelions: “It’s spring!” In summertime, the trees acquire warm tones of yellow, and “Sun shines. / Clover blooms. // Butterflies flutter. / Bees zoom.” And the babies “wade,” “hide” in the tall grass, “swing,” “slide,” and “clap.” Following the same format as in the previous books, the outing concludes with an enthusiastic “It’s summer!”

With its companions, a sweet and cheery introduction to the seasons for the youngest readers. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: March 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-68263-068-6

Page Count: 20

Publisher: Peachtree

Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- BOOK REVIEW
ENCOGER EL MONSTRUO DE LOS MIEDOS
by Sally Baird & Kathryn O. Galbraith ; illustrated by Annabelle Barrett ; translated by Chelsey DiPasquale-Hunton ; Art Director Jill Flores

- BOOK REVIEW
AUTUMN BABIES
by Kathryn O. Galbraith ; illustrated by Adela Pons

- BOOK REVIEW
TWO BUNNY BUDDIES
by Kathryn O. Galbraith ; illustrated by Joe Cepeda

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SMILE, POUT-POUT FISH

by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2014

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
POUT-POUT FISH
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
THE POUT-POUT FISH AND THE MAD, MAD DAY
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
EQUALITY'S CALL
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Magdalena Mora

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PEEKABOO REX!

From the Boynton on Board series

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 3, 2023

Peek, and you’ll find a rollicking romp here.

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The favorite game of toddlers gets a dino twist.

A large dinosaur tries to outsmart a smaller companion when the duo play peekaboo together. The big dino naïvely believes they won’t be noticed behind or under sundry hiding places, but the little pal always finds their playmate. Young listeners will giggle as the large dino attempts to outwit the little one, but in vain; in every instance, the diminutive, overalls-clad dino calls out a triumphant “Peekaboo!” How come? Is it because thin tree trunks and a potted plant can’t conceal the large dino’s frame? Do the big dino’s bold, flower-print shirts stick out a mile? Even when the large dinosaur attempts an aerial hiding place, they discover that ruse doesn’t, ahem, fly, nor does hiding in a crowd wearing a Where’s Waldo?–esque red-striped cap and T-shirt do any good. In a display of good sportsmanship, the big dino concedes at the end the game was fun. The youngest audiences, all of whom will have likely engaged in marathon peekaboo sessions themselves, will undoubtedly scramble to play again. Besides stimulating playtime, this adorable board book, expressed in lilting rhymes, boosts vocabulary development through the use of some common prepositions (behind, in) and adverbs (here, there, everywhere). The illustrations are sweetly engaging; the round cutout on the front cover invites youngsters to play peekaboo games with adult partners and others. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Peek, and you’ll find a rollicking romp here. (Board book. 1-3)