A gentle, hopeful collection of aspirations for a new life
An adult bunny lovingly contemplates what life will be for a newly arrived baby.
As the seasons change, the adult bunny ponders a series of questions, wondering what baby bunny will be, have, know, find, and do. The six-line, rhyming text between questions offers optimistic ambitions, such as to have “hopes of dreams come true,” to know “peace under a tree,” and to “feel loved every day.” Though readers may assume the adult bunny is female, this is never made explicit. Baby bunny is also gender-neutral, making this a book that will work for many diverse families. The serene illustrations adopt a seasonal color palette for each section—moving from the cool tones of winter through the delicate emergence of spring and a vibrant summer that passes too quickly into the earthy warmth of fall and back to winter’s stillness—deftly employing white space to balance the color saturation throughout. Lovely and simple in both imagery and text, this title is sure to become a bedtime favorite. It perhaps falls a bit short of its potential by offering only wishes for a life unrealistically filled with positivity and ease rather than also incorporating desires for resilience to overcome the challenges that baby bunny will inevitably face.
A gentle, hopeful collection of aspirations for a new life .(Picture book. 1-4)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-15-3
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 20, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2017
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
A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an...
A little boy exults in his new role as big brother.
Rhyming text describes the arrival of a new baby and all of the big brother’s rewarding new duties. He gets to help with feedings, diaper changes, playtime, bathtime, and naptime. Though the rhyming couplets can sometimes feel a bit forced and awkward, the sentiment is sweet, as the focus here never veers from the excitement and love a little boy feels for his tiny new sibling. The charming, uncluttered illustrations convincingly depict the growing bond between this fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked, smiling pair of boys. In the final pages, the parents, heretofore kept mostly out of view, are pictured holding the children. The accompanying text reads: “Mommy, Daddy, baby, me. / We love each other—a family!” In companion volume I Am a Big Sister, the little boy is replaced with a little girl with bows in her hair. Some of the colors and patterns in the illustrations are slightly altered, but it is essentially the same title.
A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an older sibling can do to help. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-68886-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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