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FIVE LITTLE PUPPIES JUMPING ON THE BED

Name: FIVE LITTLE PUPPIES JUMPING ON THE BED
Author: Lily Karr
ISBN: 978-0-545-38252-6

by Lily Karr & illustrated by Aaron Zenz ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2012

With its rushed conclusion, there's not enough bounce to lift this rhyme out of the ordinary.

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Monkeys shouldn't get all the fun, should they?

Despite repeated reprimands, little pups continue to jump on the bed in this slight twist on a well-known storyline. “Five little puppies jumping on the bed, / One fell off and bumped his head.” Though never in view on the page, the dogs' mama calls the doctor as each baby tumbles off the furniture, only to hear the familiar rebuke. The pattern is broken at the end, when the resolution sends the final animal in search of his missing canine companions. The doctor changes his professional opinion and offers an acceptable and timely though didactic alternative: “Let those puppies play outside!” (This is all accomplished in one four-line stanza.) Textured elements, from the rubbery wetness of a puppy's black nose to the cotton-candy–pink tufts of a poodle's hair add opportunities for interaction. There's a soft physicality in the puppies’ daring gymnastic feats; their playthings provide a reminder of their games.

With its rushed conclusion, there's not enough bounce to lift this rhyme out of the ordinary. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: March 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-545-38252-6

Page Count: 10

Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: May 29, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
MY PUMPKIN
by Lily Karr ; illustrated by Doreen M. Marts

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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
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE AND THE HALLOWEEN SCARIES
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE MADE 32 MISTAKES
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE AND THE CLASSROOM JITTERS
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

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LLAMA LLAMA TRICK OR TREAT

From the Llama Llama series

by Anna Dewdney ; illustrated by Anna Dewdney ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 19, 2014

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In this board book designed for the littlest llama lovers, adorable-as-ever Llama Llama (Llama Llama Red Pajama, 2005, etc.) gets ready for some Halloween fun.

Dewdney’s characteristic spare, apt rhymes convey a lot of action in effortlessly readable fashion. A charming and simple introduction to Halloween and its associated activities, this title finds little Llama Llama choosing and carving a pumpkin, pouring candy into bowls, picking out a costume and, finally, trick-or-treating. The costume Llama Llama decides to don—pointy teeth and a black mask and cape—is enough to frighten and fool his friends but not readers, who will immediately recognize and smile at the silly little mini-Dracula. With Dewdney’s characters as expressive as ever, young readers will be drawn right into the holiday fun, eagerly anticipating which costume Llama Llama will choose and excited to see him scare his friends and score some candy at trick-or-treat. In the equally appealing companion title, Llama Llama Jingle Bells,the little fellow gets ready for Christmas, baking and decorating some cookies in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. This simple holiday title will win Llama Llama new fans, and old friends will want to add it and its companion to their collections. (Board book. 1-2)