Kipper, the perky black-eared pup, returns in a lift-the-flap salute to soggy weather. With the help of some rainy-day friends, he explores which animals enjoy the wet weather. From frogs to snails, readers lift the flaps to unveil a myriad of creatures that relish the damp. Each spread contains a question on one page with the answer, lurking beneath the illustrated flaps, on the other. The content of the questions is simple enough to engage the young children—tell what you do in a puddle, identify which animal in a pond likes the rain, etc.—and right on target for preschoolers just beginning to hone their observation skills. The clean, rounded lines of the drawings are signature Inkpen (Kipper and Roly, p. 941, etc.) while bold splashes of color enliven the simply rendered pages. Kipper, as charmingly endearing as ever, is joined by a parade of adorable pigs, ducks, frogs, and others to beguile readers. A cheerful tale to chase away the rainy-day blues and encourage youngsters to don their foul weather gear and make like the ducks. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-15-216351-4
Page Count: 12
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2001
Though the book itself is fragile (the tabs are on the flimsy side), the original take on some of the pairings breathes new...
This new opposite concept book is a clever feat of paper engineering.
Combining elements of a pop-up book with pull tabs, this offering displays evidence of thinking outside the box. Reinforcing familiar antonym pairs while introducing new ones, the 18 opposites include beginning/end, ancient/modern, shallow/deep, empty/full, heavy/light, together/apart and near/far. On each page, pulling or sliding a labeled tab reveals the word’s opposite and changes the picture to match. Big/small is one of the standouts—the Earth is big, but a pull of the tab brings fingers closing down on it, suddenly small enough to fit in a hand. Another is tame/wild—the bush behind an orange cat conceals a ferocious tiger. Not all are as successful, however. Fast/slow utilizes the famous race between the tortoise and hare, but it is not clear which attribute belongs to which animal through the engineering. Past/present as represented by an arrow shot from a bow and a space shuttle may not effectively convey the meanings of these concepts to young readers. Bright colors and humorous details keep readers’ interest, as on the quiet/loud page, when a mouse causes an elephant to rear and trumpet loudly.
Though the book itself is fragile (the tabs are on the flimsy side), the original take on some of the pairings breathes new life into some often-clichéd opposites. (Pop-up. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7534-6624-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Kingfisher
Review Posted Online: April 17, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
This awkward attempt to force underwear out into the open will likely please many toddlers but few of their grown-ups.
This celebration of briefs (not boxers) leaves little to the imagination.
Bear receives an envelope inviting him to follow a trail of undergarments. His journey leads him deep into the dark woods, and even under the kitchen sink, in search of these undies. The final clue takes him to a disco, where blocky, big-eyed, SpongeBob SquarePants–like characters don their recently recovered underpants. A hairy monster with polka-dot briefs, jagged teeth and bare feet balances a bunny and porcupine in either hand and serves as the unusual party's host. “Welcome to FUN-TO-WEAR, / a party about underwear! / Here's every pattern / and every pair. / Count all Ten and shout: / HOORAY FOR BEAR!” Tabbed, numbered pages help readers keep track of the corresponding clothing. Tabs, text bubbles and backgrounds are all color-coordinated with the various undies. Any substantial plot or character development is sacrificed to the gleeful celebration of tightywhities (or stripies, or plaidies or swirlies).
This awkward attempt to force underwear out into the open will likely please many toddlers but few of their grown-ups. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: May 29, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-60905-204-1
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Blue Apple
Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
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