The transition from his crib to a big-boy bed may prove to be too much for Jed and his exasperated family. Jed loves his cozy and comfortable crib, but one day his family decides to surprise him with a bed. As if taking his cue from Goldilocks, Jed proclaims that this new bed is too big, too new, and definitely too blue. Jed’s family tries everything to coax him out of his sour mood. His sister answers his fear of rolling out with a railing; Auntie Stella arrives with a brand-new set of pajamas; and Uncle Stan produces new bedding. But Jed will not budge. Exasperated, his father calls in reinforcements and Grandma arrives to try her influence. Finally Jed’s sister devises a plan: as the whole family snuggles into his bed and feigns sleep, suddenly that’s where Jed wants to be. Childlike artwork, rendered with broad brushstrokes and bright colors, swirls across the pages. A simple rhyming cadence, with only a few minor stumbles, keeps the text bright and suggests that this might be a good read-aloud selection for children reluctant to move into a big bed of their own. A funny look at a common parenting hurdle. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: March 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-8037-2562-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2002
Categories: CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-68886-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Rhyming verses about kindness using a consistent metaphor of widening cracks versus blooming plants are amplified by cutouts on each page.
The art and layout are spectacular, from the cover through the double-page spreads near the end. Racially diverse toddlers are shown engaging in various moods and behaviors, some of which create unhappiness and some of which lead to friendship and happiness. Every page’s color palette and composition perfectly complement the narrative. The initial verso shows two children in aggressive stances, backgrounded by a dark, partly moonlit sky. Between them is a slender, crooked cutout. The large-type text reads: “It all / starts / with a / crack / that we can hardly see. / It happens when we shout / or if we disagree.” The recto shows two children in sunlight, with one offering a pretty leaf to the other, and the rhyme addresses the good that grows from kindness. In this image, the crooked die cut forms the trunk of a tiny sapling. Until the final double-page spreads, the art follows this clever setup: dark deeds and a crack on the left, and good deeds and a growing tree on the right. Unfortunately, the text is far from the equal of the art: It is banal and preachy, and it does not even scan well without some effort on the part of whomever is reading it. Still, the youngest children will solemnly agree with the do’s and don’ts, and they may decide to memorize a page or two.
Exciting artwork paired with disappointingly dull text. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68010-229-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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