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DADDY'S HUGS AND SNUGGLES

A gentle, soothing tribute to fathers.

Loving portrayals of fatherly care.

This rhyming picture book focuses on fathers tending to their little ones. Beginning with an early morning, illustrations depict a variety of dads and children going about their days, bike riding, gardening, and taking walks; the final spreads show fathers bathing their little ones and putting them to bed. Illustrations in a soft palette catch the pair midaction, with a loving pat on the head or about to share a bite. The simple text keeps the pages turning, the rhymes lending themselves nicely to a read-aloud. Embedded in the activities are lovely metaphors for parenting (“Holds me firm on bumpy ground”). The characters are diverse; an Asian-presenting father and child are featured on the cover, and other families of color are seen throughout. Commendably, the book also shows fathers engaging in a range of actions that have traditionally been associated with mothering, such as cooking and singing a lullaby. The dedicated care and love of the fathers in this story are sweetly and genuinely depicted, making it one of the better titles about fatherhood for toddlers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A gentle, soothing tribute to fathers. (Picture book. 2-4)

Pub Date: March 7, 2023

ISBN: 9781338854046

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023

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I AM A BIG BROTHER

A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an...

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 16, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015

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PEPPA'S GIANT PUMPKIN

From the Peppa Pig series

This TV rerun in board-book form has nothing new to offer.

Peppa hopes to join her classmates in a Halloween pumpkin competition in this adaptation of a story from the popular British television program Peppa Pig.

With the help of Granny and Grandpa Pig, Peppa turns her giant pumpkin, which is the size of a compact car, into a jack-o’-lantern. The trio is flummoxed when it comes time to transport the pumpkin to the competition, so they call on Miss Rabbit and her helicopter to airlift the pumpkin to the festivities as Peppa and her grandparents ride inside. Peppa arrives just in time for the contest and wins the prize for best flying pumpkin. The scenes look as if they are pulled directly from the television show, right down to the rectangular framing of some of the scenes. While the story is literally nothing new, the text is serviceable, describing the action in two to three sentences per page. The pumpkin-shaped book and orange foil cover will likely attract youngsters, whether they are Peppa fans or not.

This TV rerun in board-book form has nothing new to offer. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: July 30, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-338-33922-2

Page Count: 10

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019

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