A sweetly told animal story of loss, danger, and reunion.
An adopted ferret settles into his new home but misses his buddy in this debut picture book.
Chubby and Coco are ferrets and best friends, spending their time playing together. But one day, Coco vanishes. Chubby doesn’t understand why and misses her terribly. Chubby’s owner, Mark, no longer has time to care for him and asks his brother, Jeffrey, to adopt him, which he’s glad to do. The young man sets up everything a ferret needs, and soon Chubby is eating (of course), playing, going for walks, and snuggling with Jeffrey. But he still misses Coco. One day, Chubby slips out of the apartment and tries looking for his old friend, but he’s scared by bullying geese in a nearby park. Jeffrey rescues and reassures Chubby. When he goes on vacation, Jeffrey leaves Chubby with his father, John—who, it turns out, has been taking care of Coco. The ferrets are overjoyed to see each other again, and when Jeffrey returns, both animals come home with him, happily reunited. Abrams includes photographs of the actual ferrets that inspired this work, which give a good sense of their personalities, as with Chubby’s horrified expression when surrounded by geese. The book subtly teaches children about responsible pet ownership, which includes relocating furry friends when necessary, searching immediately for lost animals, and trying to keep bonded pairs together. Children might better relate to younger human protagonists, but that’s a quibble.
A sweetly told animal story of loss, danger, and reunion.Pub Date: July 26, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4120-7294-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Trafford
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come.
Little Blue Truck and his pal Toad meet friends old and new on a springtime drive through the country.
This lift-the-flap, interactive entry in the popular Little Blue Truck series lacks the narrative strength and valuable life lessons of the original Little Blue Truck (2008) and its sequel, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (2009). Both of those books, published for preschoolers rather than toddlers, featured rich storylines, dramatic, kinetic illustrations, and simple but valuable life lessons—the folly of taking oneself too seriously, the importance of friends, and the virtue of taking turns, for example. At about half the length and with half as much text as the aforementioned titles, this volume is a much quicker read. Less a story than a vernal celebration, the book depicts a bucolic drive through farmland and encounters with various animals and their young along the way. Beautifully rendered two-page tableaux teem with butterflies, blossoms, and vibrant pastel, springtime colors. Little Blue greets a sheep standing in the door of a barn: “Yoo-hoo, Sheep! / Beep-beep! / What’s new?” Folding back the durable, card-stock flap reveals the barn’s interior and an adorable set of twin lambs. Encounters with a duck and nine ducklings, a cow with a calf, a pig with 10 (!) piglets, a family of bunnies, and a chicken with a freshly hatched chick provide ample opportunity for counting and vocabulary work.
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-544-93809-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
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Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
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