A solid addition to the muddled-animal-sounds bookshelf.
The titular cow’s not the only mixed-up animal.
When the cow says, “Meow,” the kid who hears it, a brown-skinned child with a perfectly round head and shock of straight, black hair, remarks, “What a copycat!” The cat on the next page has something to say about that. It’s not what readers might think. The cat says, “Neigh,” prompting the kid to note, “The cat sounds hoarse!” That makes the horse growl. The kid “can’t bear it,” which summons a bleating bear. Each observation by the increasingly frustrated youngster mentions, sometimes punnily, the big-eyed animal across the gutter. And the animal never says what the kid expects. The whole ball of confusion culminates with a pig saying “Hi!” And when the kid protests, “Pigs don’t say ‘hello’!” a young human (a kid with light-brown skin, freckles, and long, straight brown hair) on the next page brings the story full circle by saying, “Mooo.” This prompts the cow to ask, “Can I say meow again?” Children will giggle over the absurdly wrong sounds the animals make at each page turn as well as the kid’s growing exasperation; all dialogue is presented in speech bubbles. The front and back covers feature eyeholes that allow readers to peer out of the cow face on the front and the cat face on the back; the front endpapers feature animals making the incorrect sounds and the back endpapers have them speaking their own languages. Scott’s textured cartoon illustrations have the look of chalk to them, and their bright silliness is a good match for Call’s wordplay. With its brief text, limited vocabulary, and onomatopoeia, this is also friendly to emergent readers. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-13-inch double-page spreads viewed at 90.8% of actual size.)
A solid addition to the muddled-animal-sounds bookshelf. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-358-42334-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
