Unfortunate word choice and a disconcerting image mar an otherwise engaging story of two toddlers’ early-morning adventure in this Australian import. Gleeson’s rhyming text is told mainly in the voice of the older child. The unnamed narrator encourages her (or possibly his) younger sibling to wake up, roll out of bed, crawl down the hall and join her in climbing into their parents’ bed. Although Vivas takes care to show that both children land on soft covers, the illustration of the baby landing head-down on a hardwood floor is unsettling. Also potentially disturbing is Gleeson’s use of “mangle” in the litany of ways that the family interacts as they hug and cuddle. Parents willing to overlook these quibbles may be won over by Vivas’s softly rounded, richly colored watercolor-and-pencil illustrations and by Gleeson’s obvious affection for the cozy family ritual she describes. But more than most, this is one picture book that readers will want to preview before reading (or purchasing). (Picture book. 2-4)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-7636-2320-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2004
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A thoughtful and inclusive overview of seasonal celebrations.
A look at the many ways people observe the holiday season.
This rhyming board book serves as a brief introduction to different celebrations. Each two-page layout features a family with items and symbols, such as a menorah or a Christmas tree, as well as a holiday card. Many different types of families are shown getting into the spirit: a single parent and child and a multiracial family, among others. The book includes not only Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, but also “Chrismukkah” (a celebration of both Christmas and Hanukkah). Notably, one spread depicts a family with no holiday symbols; instead, the text wishes readers a cheerful, nonreligious “Season’s Greetings / and Happy New Year!” The illustrations are simple and colorful. Nearly everyone is portrayed with a smile or an open-mouthed grin. Though the art may lack overall sophistication, its inclusive depiction of people gets high marks—in keeping with the book’s spirit of representation, characters range in age, size, ability, and skin tone. While it can be difficult to draw out nuance in a story for toddlers, this book does a lot to underscore the point that family and celebration don’t have singular definitions. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A thoughtful and inclusive overview of seasonal celebrations. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-66592-141-1
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
Though its single-minded focus on success offers positive role modeling, it needs to be used with other, more realistic...
A toddler shares his glee at leaving diapers behind.
The book is completely child-focused, without an adult in sight. This youngster's independence influences each aspect of his toileting; he takes himself to the pot, and he uses a step stool to reach the sink to wash his hands after. There's no indication that any accidents may occur. The boy boasts, “When it's time, I know.” Brisk, rhyming phrases miss the mark. “Everyone uses the potty, / like me and Daddy and Mommy. / It's potty time, hooray! / I'm a big kid today.” With a little button nose and short spiky hair, the Caucasian tot is appealing. His favorite teddy bear plays the role of a loyal companion and even sits on his own potty just like the child. A die-cut–framed, battery-operated button (“flush me!”) triggers sound effects. Adults looking for a straightforward celebration of this milestone will gravitate toward this short selection, but there's no hint of the inevitable missteps young children face during the process.
Though its single-minded focus on success offers positive role modeling, it needs to be used with other, more realistic titles (and lots of patience). (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: May 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-35080-8
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 29, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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