A cleverly illustrated wordless outing that is a natural progression for readers of Jocelyn’s previous board books.
The titular yellow ribbon explores the world.
In this book and its companion, One Patch of Blue, a yellow ribbon tied around a child’s braid and a patch sewn onto a pair of jeans find new lives out in the world. The ribbon forms the mane of a lion, crops on a farm, and the dress on a woman dancing with her family, while the blue patch becomes the car on a Ferris wheel, the window of an ice cream truck, and the diamond in the middle of a stained glass window. On each page, readers must find the patch or the ribbon and, if inspired, can tell a story about what they see. As in earlier titles One Red Button and One Piece of String (both 2017), Jocelyn’s textured and vibrantly colored collage-style illustrations are filled with delightful detail and feature diverse characters; the children on the covers of both books have brown skin. Unlike the previous books, the materials are often well-hidden in the pictures, presenting a challenge for very young children. Furthermore, while each picture is rich in detail, they are not grouped thematically, making it difficult for older children to tell a coherent story that flows page to page. That being said, the images are beautifully rendered, and, in both books, the double-page spreads are breathtaking.
A cleverly illustrated wordless outing that is a natural progression for readers of Jocelyn’s previous board books. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: March 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4598-2076-0
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2019
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.
This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.
Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An invitation for readers to learn through observation.
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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