Noah and his little sister, Evie-May, are Christmas shopping with Mommy.
The family heads to a “Christmassy shop” with a long gift list. Evie-May is in a stroller, and Noah has a stuffed elephant named Oliver with him. Noah’s love for his favorite toy is evident in the first few illustrations, and the two have lots of imaginary fun with all of the colorful merchandise in the store while Mommy checks names off of the list. Their adventure, complete with the odd mishap or two, is delivered in rhyming text and light, airy, expressive illustrations. Noah and Oliver eventually tire of shopping, and they all stop at a cafe, where a slice of chocolate cake brings a smile back to Noah’s face—but Oliver slips off Noah’s seat, and they leave without him. When Noah discovers that Oliver is lost, he panics. Children will relate to Noah’s anguish as he, Mommy, and Evie-May retrace their steps, revisiting all of the places they’d been, with no luck. Noah cries, “Oliver Elephant, where can you be? / Oliver Elephant, come back to me!” Children will delight in discovering Oliver’s hiding place. Some sharp-eyed readers may even have predicted where he’s been.
A sweet, charming story of overcoming familiar difficulties during the hectic holiday season, with the help of those who love you. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 25, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0266-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
Categories: CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS
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A playful counting book also acts as a celebration of family and human diversity.
Shannon’s text is delivered in spare, rhythmic, lilting verse that begins with one and counts up to 10 as it presents different groupings of things and people in individual families, always emphasizing the unitary nature of each combination. “One is six. One line of laundry. One butterfly’s legs. One family.” Gomez’s richly colored pictures clarify and expand on all that the text lists: For “six,” a picture showing six members of a multigenerational family of color includes a line of laundry with six items hanging from it outside of their windows, as well as the painting of a six-legged butterfly that a child in the family is creating. While text never directs the art to depict diverse individuals and family constellations, Gomez does just this in her illustrations. Interracial families are included, as are depictions of men with their arms around each other, and a Sikh man wearing a turban. This inclusive spirit supports the text’s culminating assertion that “One is one and everyone. One earth. One world. One family.”
A visually striking, engaging picture book that sends the message that everyone counts. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 26, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-374-30003-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Frances Foster/Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015
Categories: CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A little bear named Teddy gets ready for Christmas with his father, Big Bear, in this decidedly cheerful British import.
Teddy is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Christmas, asking his father endless questions in the manner of little ones everywhere. Father and son work together to wrap presents, bake a cake and search for a Christmas tree. The tree that Teddy chooses is too large to fit through the doors of their house, and when they bring it through the window, the top of the tree snaps off. Teddy dissolves into tears at the accident, but father and son work together to repair the damage and decorate the tree for Christmas Eve. A joyful concluding spread shows the bear pair on Christmas morning, sprawled under their tree, eating cake and candy and enjoying their unwrapped gifts. The text is aggressively jolly, with sound effects and key words and phrases set in display type and lots of exclamation marks. But Chapman’s large-format illustrations are appealing, with plenty of humor and motion, and her bears are amusing—especially Teddy, who really does look like a teddy bear come to life.
A story with a youngster getting ready for Christmas with just his dad should be a welcome choice for single fathers to share with their children. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-58925-149-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2013
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS
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