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HELLO ANIMALS, WHAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL?

Name: HELLO ANIMALS, WHAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL?
Author: Loes Botman
ISBN: 978-1-7825-0218-0

From the Hello Animals series

by Loes Botman ; illustrated by Loes Botman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2015

Exquisite illustrations elevate this simple concept book appropriate for older babies and toddlers.

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A brief introduction to animals and their particular characteristics.

The text begins: “Hello animals! What makes you special?” The illustrations depict a series of animals—including an owl, a swan, a robin, a rabbit, a deer, and more—who offer answers in first person. The owl, for instance, says “my big eyes,” the robin chooses “my red breast,” and the deer offers “my spikey antlers.” The minimal text leaves the animals unnamed, providing a good opportunity for conversation and encouraging readers to focus on the gorgeous pastel illustrations, which are what make this offering special. The detailed, realistic renderings create lifelike critters ablaze with color and light. A second volume in the Hello Animals series, called Where Do You Live?, delivers further delightful illustrations of animals, this time accompanied by a couple of words describing their habitats. For example, readers see a frog and some fish who live “in a pond” and a dog and cat who live “in a house.”

Exquisite illustrations elevate this simple concept book appropriate for older babies and toddlers. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-7825-0218-0

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Floris

Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- BOOK REVIEW
HELLO BABY ANIMALS, WHO ARE YOU?
by Loes Botman ; illustrated by Loes Botman

- BOOK REVIEW
HELLO ANIMALS, HOW DO YOU SLEEP?
by Loes Botman ; illustrated by Loes Botman

- BOOK REVIEW
HELLO BIRDS, WHAT DO YOU SAY?
by Loes Botman ; illustrated by Loes Botman

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SPOOKY POOKIE

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 7, 2015

A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character.

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One of Boynton's signature characters celebrates Halloween.

It's Halloween time, and Pookie the pig is delighted. Mom helps the little porker pick out the perfect Halloween costume, a process that spans the entire board book. Using an abcb rhyme scheme, Boynton dresses Pookie in a series of cheerful costumes, including a dragon, a bunny, and even a caped superhero. Pookie eventually settles on the holiday classic, a ghost, by way of a bedsheet. Boynton sprinkles in amusing asides to her stanzas as Pookie offers costume commentary ("It's itchy"; "It's hot"; "I feel silly"). Little readers will enjoy the notion of transforming themselves with their own Halloween costumes while reading this book, and a few parents may get some ideas as well. Boynton's clean, sharp illustrations are as good as ever. This is Pookie's first holiday title, but readers will surely welcome more.

A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: July 7, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-553-51233-5

Page Count: 18

Publisher: Robin Corey/Random

Review Posted Online: July 26, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
HIPPOS REMAIN CALM
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

- BOOK REVIEW
WOO HOO! YOU'RE DOING GREAT!
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

- BOOK REVIEW
HAPPY EASTER, LITTLE POOKIE
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

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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)