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MAMA'S PAJAMAS

Name: MAMA'S PAJAMAS
Author: Mara Van Fleet
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7975-2

by Mara Van Fleet ; illustrated by Mara Van Fleet ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2017

Sweet and insipid.

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Two very lucky children have a crafty mother who makes pajamas most children can only dream of.

Two blond, white children—a brother-and-sister duo to judge by hairstyle conventions—wear pajamas created by their mother, and what pajamas they are! Their mama has made them to look like a green dragon, a red fox, a blue elephant, a yellow lion, a brown bear, a sparkling, purple fairy, pink and white bunnies, an orange kangaroo, and white sheep. Each night they choose what they want to be. As they parade the different pajamas in front of readers, each outfit has a touch-and-feel element, though there is not much variety to the textures. The dragon pajamas have “green, bumpy scales”; the red fox pajamas sport a “soft, bushy tail”; and though the elephant pajamas are supposed to be “wrinkly” and “rough,” in reality the texture is just slightly bumpy. The only pajamas without a touch-and-feel element are the kangaroo ones, which instead have a flap that, when opened, reveals a pouch for the younger brother. Predictably, the white sheep pajamas are cuddly and cozy and make the children feel sleepy. As with so many of its ilk, the book seems geared for maximum saccharinity, with little to offer beyond the cute jammies.

Sweet and insipid. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: May 2, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-4814-7975-2

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: April 30, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
NIGHT-NIGHT, PRINCESS
by Mara Van Fleet ; illustrated by Mara Van Fleet

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE COLOR FAIRIES
by Mara Van Fleet & illustrated by Mara Van Fleet

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LLAMA LLAMA SHAPES

From the Learning With Llama Llama series

developed by Anna Dewdney ; illustrated by JT Morrow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 7, 2023

An invitation for readers to learn through observation.

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Llama Llama and Mama spot different shapes at the farmers market.

Dewdney’s iconic llama stars in this board book, a part of the Learning With Llama Llama series. The story showcases five shapes: rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, and stars. Rather than simply showing the shapes and naming them, illustrator Morrow embeds them inside scenes from the farmers market. Each page turn uncovers a different shape. Signage and a shopping bag pop as rectangles, while umbrellas, a slice of watermelon, and the peaks of the tents form triangles. Shapes that appeared on previous pages are visible even as the story progresses, and the final page helps readers revisit and recall shapes they’ve already found. There are plenty of engaging details to keep readers looking, including other animal shoppers, kite-flying, and sudden, surprising rain. The text is concise, and each spread features a simple question inviting participation. This title is more captivating than other shape concept books, especially those that show block-colored shapes without context. Llama Llama’s popularity will make this a hit with fans, and readers looking for substance will find it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An invitation for readers to learn through observation. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-593-46509-7

Page Count: 14

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
LLAMA LLAMA'S LITTLE LIE
by Anna Dewdney & Reed Duncan ; illustrated by JT Morrow

- BOOK REVIEW
LLAMA LLAMA BACK TO SCHOOL
by Anna Dewdney & Reed Duncan ; illustrated by JT Morrow

- BOOK REVIEW
LLAMA LLAMA MEETS THE BABYSITTER
by Anna Dewdney & Reed Duncan ; illustrated by JT Morrow

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THE ABCS OF LOVE

by Rose Rossner ; illustrated by AndoTwin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2020

Perfect for Valentine’s Day, but the syrupy sweetness will cloy after the holiday.

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Animal parents declare their love for their offspring in alphabetical order.

Each page displays an enormous capital letter, one line of verse with the keyword capitalized, and a loving nonhuman parent gazing adoringly at their baby. “A is for Always. I always love you more. / B is for Butterfly kisses. It’s you that I adore.” While not named or labelled as such, the A is also for an alligator and its hatchling and B is for a butterfly and a butterfly child (not a caterpillar—biology is not the aim of this title) interacting in some way with the said letter. For E there are an elephant and a calf; U features a unicorn and foal; and X, keyed to the last letter of the animal’s name, corresponds to a fox and three pups. The final double-page spread shows all the featured creatures and their babies as the last line declares: “Baby, I love you from A to Z!” The verse is standard fare and appropriately sentimental. The art is cartoony-cute and populated by suitably loving critters on solid backgrounds. Hearts accent each scene, but the theme of the project is never in any doubt.

Perfect for Valentine’s Day, but the syrupy sweetness will cloy after the holiday. (Board book. 1-3)