adapted by MaryChris Bradley ; illustrated by Gwé ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 5, 2019
This will surely appeal to tots thanks to the manipulatives, but the story itself is good only for providing a foundation...
An interactive board-book version of the classic tale.
Finding a way to present a classic tale afresh is a nearly impossible task. In this version, illustrator Gwé attempts a new take by adding manipulative wheels and sliders that advance pieces of the story. This includes manipulatives such as the transformation of straw, sticks, and bricks into houses with the swipe of a finger and an effect whereby the big, bad wolf’s chest first puffs up and then disappears with his exhalations. By and large, these gimmicks work, but clarity relies on the correct setup of the manipulatives. Otherwise, for example, the door to the third little pig’s house will already be closed when readers come to that page, taking away the dramatic slamming effect. The illustrations themselves are simple and cartoonish. The only humans that appear are three white men who dole out building supplies to the pigs. As is perhaps preferable for the audience, the story is tamer than classic versions: no gobbled-up piggies, no boiled wolf. The simultaneously publishing Goldilocks and the Three Bears, illustrated by Marion Cocklico, contains similar although more diverse interactive elements (lifting flaps, sliding objects, and finger sliders). In this book, the story is all about the movable elements; the text is bland.
This will surely appeal to tots thanks to the manipulatives, but the story itself is good only for providing a foundation for better retellings. (Board book. 3-5)Pub Date: Feb. 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-2-7338-6150-9
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Auzou Publishing
Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
Share your opinion of this book
More by Sejung Kim
BOOK REVIEW
illustrated by Sejung Kim ; translated by MaryChris Bradley
BOOK REVIEW
by Orianne Lallemand ; illustrated by Elenore Thullier ; translated by MaryChris Bradley
BOOK REVIEW
by Orianne Lallemand ; illustrated by Claire Frossard ; translated by MaryChris Bradley
by Jennifer Adams ; illustrated by Greg Pizzoli ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 18, 2017
An appropriately bright and brief introduction, probably better for younger preschoolers than toddlers.
Tour around San Francisco in this most recent entry in the My Little Cities series; follow a young, brown-skinned child with a baseball cap and their adult as they visit iconic landmarks.
Each double-page spread shows text on the recto and an illustration on the verso. The simple text consists of rhyming couplets portraying mainly opposites in the City by the Bay: “Travel high / travel low” show them at the Golden Gate Bridge and in the San Francisco Bay Ferry in front of Alcatraz Island, respectively, while “Stop to eat / and stop to play” show them eating ice cream with the sea lions at Pier 39 and then flying a kite at the Cliff House. Simple digital collage illustrations in bright colors show them all around the city at such top attractions as Lombard Street, the Painted Ladies, and the cable cars. The diversity of the city is well-represented by smiling people, round-headed with round noses and skin of various different shades of brown. The author embraces San Francisco as a “city of parades and protest,” illustrating “Lights at night / flags in day” with the Chinese New Year parade and then a varied group of people with the letters LOVE and a rainbow flag in front of City Hall. On the final spread are brief details on the 10 landmarks featured, useful for all ages. The companion title Paris, with a similar format, features the same child and adult enjoying the City of Light.
An appropriately bright and brief introduction, probably better for younger preschoolers than toddlers. (Board book. 3-5)Pub Date: July 18, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4521-5391-9
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018
Share your opinion of this book
More by Jennifer Adams
BOOK REVIEW
by Jennifer Adams ; illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
BOOK REVIEW
by Charlotte Jones Voiklis & Jennifer Adams ; illustrated by Adelina Lirius
BOOK REVIEW
by Jennifer Adams ; illustrated by Carme Lemniscates
by Amy Blay ; illustrated by Amy Blay ; translated by Susan Allen Maurin ; adapted by MaryChris Bradley ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 28, 2018
Skip.
This board-book retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood” features colorful, retro-style illustrations and a few movable flaps.
This version of the red-caped protagonist sports a distinctive cone-shaped hood as she enacts the familiar motions of the story. The sturdy interactions include a swinging basket, a blanket that covers the wolf on Grandma’s bed, a spinner that depicts the wolf’s dreams; they give younger kids something to manipulate but do not add much to the story. There are regrettable inaccuracies and elisions in Bradley’s adaptation of Maurin’s translation of the original French text. The neck of a bottle protrudes from the basket, which readers are told contains “cake and butter” for Grandma, and the wolf wears a pair of frilly pajamas, which the text calls “one of [Grandma’s] nightgowns.” This quick story ends with the hunter shown wielding a pair of scissors on the wolf’s bulging belly as the text recounts that he “rescued Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother” (who emerge unscathed with the pull of a tab). One of the main disappointments of this shortened (but still text-heavy) version is that it skips the “Grandma, what big eyes you have!” routine. The publisher recommends an age range of “0-36 months,” which is consistent with the format but not with the audience’s developmental readiness. Companion title Pinocchio, with illustrations by Tiago Americo, is similarly awkward and unsuitable.
Skip. (Novelty board book. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2018
ISBN: 978-2-7338-5625-3
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Auzou Publishing
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
Share your opinion of this book
More In The Series
adapted by MaryChris Bradley ; illustrated by Gwé
adapted by Mara Alperin ; illustrated by Erica-Jane Waters
More by Géraldine Krasinski
BOOK REVIEW
by Géraldine Krasinski ; illustrated by Amy Blay
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.