In this counting picture book, a bedtime story features plenty of action.
Counting from one to 10, Lisa, a red-haired White girl, and Charlie, a Black boy, describe a story filled with madcap events. For instance, they say the tale is “so noisy, it’s like 3 billy goats are having a meeting.” They also explain that it’s “so Buzzy, it’s like 4 little fairies are fluttering around in the bathroom all trying to brush their tiny teeth at once,” and it’s “so mixed-up, it’s like 8 BIG mice are playing tag with 9 mini cats in the front yard.” When it’s time for bed, Charlie and Lisa count backward from 10 to one, recalling each happening. They admit that it’s “SO hard to sleep with all of this hubbub going on” because “this is NOT REALLY a good night book” but a “GOOD MORNING book.” The story concludes: “Wake up, kids! Welcome to this special day!” Evenson’s zany tale packed with creative scenes will aptly introduce youngsters to basic counting skills. The imaginative incidents have kid appeal, such as the “candy explosion in the playroom.” Matkevych’s colorful, lively illustrations offer animated renderings with charming details, including where critters cozily slumber. Readers will enjoy anthropomorphic characters like the smiling broccoli florets and gardening tools. The last spread integrates the players and elements from each episode, such as the two “big and bad” elephants playing on the seven “wacky swings.”
A humorous and spirited counting tale for young readers.Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-83934-335-3
Page Count: 42
Publisher: Bumblebee Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 21, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Categories: CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S
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The sturdy Little Blue Truck is back for his third adventure, this time delivering Christmas trees to his band of animal pals.
The truck is decked out for the season with a Christmas wreath that suggests a nose between headlights acting as eyeballs. Little Blue loads up with trees at Toad’s Trees, where five trees are marked with numbered tags. These five trees are counted and arithmetically manipulated in various ways throughout the rhyming story as they are dropped off one by one to Little Blue’s friends. The final tree is reserved for the truck’s own use at his garage home, where he is welcomed back by the tree salestoad in a neatly circular fashion. The last tree is already decorated, and Little Blue gets a surprise along with readers, as tiny lights embedded in the illustrations sparkle for a few seconds when the last page is turned. Though it’s a gimmick, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it fits with the retro atmosphere of the snowy country scenes. The short, rhyming text is accented with colored highlights, red for the animal sounds and bright green for the numerical words in the Christmas-tree countdown.
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own tree that will put a twinkle in a toddler’s eyes. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-544-32041-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A young child explores the unlimited potential inherent in all humans.
“Have you ever wondered why you are here?” asks the second-person narration. There is no one like you. Maybe you’re here to make a difference with your uniqueness; maybe you will speak for those who can’t or use your gifts to shine a light into the darkness. The no-frills, unrhymed narrative encourages readers to follow their hearts and tap into their limitless potential to be anything and do anything. The precisely inked and colored artwork plays with perspective from the first double-page spread, in which the child contemplates a mountain (or maybe an iceberg) in their hands. Later, they stand on a ladder to place white spots on tall, red mushrooms. The oversized flora and fauna seem to symbolize the presumptively insurmountable, reinforcing the book’s message that anything is possible. This quiet read, with its sophisticated central question, encourages children to reach for their untapped potential while reminding them it won’t be easy—they will make messes and mistakes—but the magic within can help overcome falls and failures. It’s unlikely that members of the intended audience have begun to wonder about their life’s purpose, but this life-affirming mood piece has honorable intentions. The child, accompanied by an adorable piglet and sporting overalls and a bird-beaked cap made of leaves, presents white.
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves . (Picture book. 2-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-946873-75-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: May 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
Categories: CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S
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