Despite the commercial tie-in, this is a worthy and useful addition to the growing list of books for young yogis.
Toddlers are invited to imitate 21 basic yoga poses modeled by a serene teddy bear that is also available for purchase.
Only the poses are shown. There are no hints about how to achieve the pose (getting into pigeon or eagle position using only the illustration may prove difficult), modify the posture, or transition between poses. Nor is there any discussion of meditation or the philosophy behind yoga practice. The uncluttered, child-friendly design overshadows these concerns. Caregivers can find instructional information in other, more detailed manuals or videos or on the Meddy Teddy website, where a bear that can be bent into yoga positions is sold. The book is designed to help young children recognize and perhaps try the poses, even if they do not have the poseable bear. The teddy bear, with its cream-colored yoga pants, stitched-on smile, and constantly closed eyes, is a nonjudgmental and race-neutral role model. Most poses are shown on a single page with “Upward-facing dog” and “Forward-fold split” each occupying a double-page spread. Each posture stands out clearly against a solid-colored background. The designers avoid the use of confusing metaphors, labeling each pose with the most commonly used term for that position.
Despite the commercial tie-in, this is a worthy and useful addition to the growing list of books for young yogis. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Oct. 9, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-63565-129-4
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 4, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed.
This book presents a simplified explanation of the role the atmosphere plays in controlling climate.
The authors present a planet as a ball and its atmosphere as a blanket that envelops the ball. If the blanket is thick, the planet will be hot, as is the case for Venus. If the blanket is thin, the planet is cold, as with Mars. Planet Earth has a blanket that traps “just the right amount of heat.” The authors explain trees, animals, and oceans are part of what makes Earth’s atmosphere “just right.” “But…Uh-oh! People on Earth are changing the blanket!” The book goes on to explain how some human activities are sending “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere, thus “making the blanket heavier and thicker” and “making Earth feel unwell.” In the case of a planet feeling unwell, what would the symptoms be? Sea-level rises that lead to erosion, flooding, and island loss, along with extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires. Ending on a constructive note, the authors name a few of the remedies to “help our Earth before it’s too late!” By using the blanket analogy, alongside simple and clear illustrations, this otherwise complex topic becomes very accessible to young children, though caregivers will need to help with the specialized vocabulary.
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed. (Board book. 3-4)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8082-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
Ho-hum.
A riff on the familiar lullaby depicts various animal parents, and then a human father, soothing their sleepy little ones.
An opening spread includes the traditional first verse of the titular lullaby, but instead of depicting a human baby in a treetop cradle, the accompanying illustration shows a large tree as habitat to the animals that are highlighted on subsequent pages. First the perspective zooms in on a painterly illustration rendered in acrylics of a mother squirrel cuddling her baby with text reading “Rock-a-bye Squirrel, / high in the tree, / in Mommy’s arms, / cozy as can be.” In this spread and others the cadence doesn’t quite fit with the familiar tune, and repeated verses featuring different animals—all opening with the “Rock-a-bye” line—don’t give way to the resolution. No winds blow, no boughs break, and the repetitive forced rhythm of the verse could cause stumbles when attempting a read-aloud. The final image of a human father and baby, whose skin tone and hair texture suggest that they are perhaps of South Asian descent, provides pleasing visual resolution in a book with art that outshines text.
Ho-hum. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3753-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: June 26, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2017
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