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WHO'S THAT JUMPING?

Name: WHO'S THAT JUMPING?
Author: Kingfisher
ISBN: 978-0-7534-6971-2

AND OTHER ANIMAL ACTIONS

by Kingfisher ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 30, 2013

This accessible title rightly focuses on what is of interest to little ones.

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A catalog of animal movements and other nature facts for the youngest zoologists.

Clear, eye-catching photos on solid, bright backgrounds show various critters jumping, hopping, running and galloping. The left-hand page depicts the creature moving through its habitat. The rabbit, for example, bounds through a field as the text asks, “Who’s that hopping?” The answer, printed on a band of color, is the movement restated, with the placement and size of type mimicking the action itself. The facing page presents the animal at rest so youngsters can get a clear look. Two simple facts about the animal are shared: “I am a cheetah. I have lots of spots and very sharp claws.” One body part of each creature is labeled with a dotted line, which may encourage adults to discuss these photos with their little ones. The companion book, Who’s that...Roaring? And Other Animal Sounds, follows an identical format, but here, the noises of domestic and wild animals are at play. While the featured creatures in both books are pretty standard animal fare (horse, lion, sheep and elephant), there are some new faces here (puma, grasshopper and parrot) and some interesting new vocabulary words (antenna, whiskers and mane). While a cleaner page layout might have served both offerings better, nonfiction is hard to come by for young children.

This accessible title rightly focuses on what is of interest to little ones. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: April 30, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-7534-6971-2

Page Count: 14

Publisher: Kingfisher

Review Posted Online: April 30, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
WHO'S THAT...PLAYING?
by Kingfisher

- BOOK REVIEW
ON THE FARM
by Kingfisher

- BOOK REVIEW
AT THE ZOO
by Kingfisher

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S HALLOWEEN

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK MAKES A FRIEND
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S VALENTINE
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

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ANIMAL SHAPES

by Christopher Silas Neal ; illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2018

Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.

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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)