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TWO CAN PLAY

Name: TWO CAN PLAY
Author: Margaret Sturton
ISBN: 978-1-72842-413-2

by Margaret Sturton ; illustrated by Margaret Sturton ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 6, 2021

A cheeky little lesson in a fine feline fable.

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Cat and Puss have different ideas of what’s fun.

Cat plans their garden and asks Puss to help—“It’ll be fun”—but Puss thinks “working together” sounds like anything but; she’d rather play. Cat goes off to dig the whole garden by herself. Puss watches from a nearby tree, reflecting that “digging look[s] like hard work.” Cat asks Puss if she wants to help pick out seeds. No—but when Cat goes to the store, Puss sneaks along to watch, thinking the activity “might actually be a bit fun.” Puss won’t help plant the seeds or help scare the birds…but she’s always watching from different hiding places. Puss won’t even help in harvesting or cooking. She does, however, suggest that she help with the eating. Rather than answering directly, Cat asks Puss, “What do you think?” Puss sadly goes off to do the washing up since she does not feel entitled to eat. Cat, of course, points out eating as well as washing up are “far more fun” together. It turns out that storing food for winter together is “the best fun of all!” Young readers will recognize in Sturton’s tale a mellow recasting of “The Little Red Hen.” Orange Cat wears a green bow atop her head and green shorts and boots while blue Puss sports a yellow tutu; they inhabit a colorful, pastel world of anthropomorphic animals.

A cheeky little lesson in a fine feline fable. (Picture book. 2-7)

Pub Date: April 6, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-72842-413-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Andersen Press USA

Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
A FOX CALLED HERBERT
by Margaret Sturton ; illustrated by Margaret Sturton

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IndieBound Bestseller

LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S HALLOWEEN

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.

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Awards & Accolades

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IndieBound Bestseller

A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.

Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: July 5, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3

Page Count: 16

Publisher: HMH Books

Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK MAKES A FRIEND
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

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WILL THE PIGEON GRADUATE?

From the Pigeon series

by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2025

An earnest graduation gift: sweet for lifelong fans, cheerfully encouraging for striving, future graduates.

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Success comes at last for the bright-eyed Pigeon.

A clever, tongue-in-cheek ersatz colophon reveals that this graduate has been awarded a “Master of Ornery-thology, Bachelor of Arts of Persuasion with a Minor in Major Freak-outs (summa cum loudly).” Fans will be glad that the Pigeon’s tireless, abundant optimism is finally being ceremoniously recognized. On the cover, the Pigeon wears a mortarboard at a jaunty angle, commenting, “I have the hat!” Of course, dressing the part is essential. But also, “I did the work. I paid attention to the little details. I took some BIG steps.” The Pigeon encountered obstacles (not shown, but many memorable ones will come to mind for the Pigeon's followers). And the Pigeon is plagued by worries familiar to many students who are about to graduate: “WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN?!? What will I do? Who will I be?” The Pigeon appears in every frame, in close-ups and in poses variously thoughtful, confident, or slightly distressed. Our hero’s simple big eyes and wings are, as ever, remarkably expressive. “Oop!” In one scene, while walking off the dais, diploma in wing, the Pigeon comes to what seems like the edge of a chasm. At last, our hero takes flight with other graduates. Willems' popular characters Gerald and Piggie are there to look on admiringly.

An earnest graduation gift: sweet for lifelong fans, cheerfully encouraging for striving, future graduates. (Picture book. 3-7)