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SWIM THE SILVER SEA, JOSHIE OTTER

Name: SWIM THE SILVER SEA, JOSHIE OTTER
Author: Nancy White Carlstrom
ISBN: 0-399-21872-6

by Nancy White Carlstrom & illustrated by Ken Kuroi ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 21, 1993

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Mama Otter won't play, so Joshie sets out on his own; but the other arctic animals are too drowsy to play (like the seal pups) or too busy (like the puffins). When night falls, Joshie hears his mother's song calling him home; next day, she's glad to play. Mama's reason for her day off—which seems more human than otter-like—goes unexplained; still, Joshie's independent foray is nicely shaped, with second glimpses of the same animals (now sleeping) as he swims home, while White's lilting cadence is just right for this lyrical bedtime story. Kuroi (who's illustrated 100 titles in Japan) uses colored pencils for art with almost an airbrush effect; his rounded, pillow-soft forms are organized into pleasing decorative spreads. The animals—especially the round-faced otters—have a slightly cartoonish cast, but that's a small defect in an attractive offering. Carlstrom includes a melodious tune for her three-stanza song. (Picture book. 2-6)

Pub Date: April 21, 1993

ISBN: 0-399-21872-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Philomel

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1993

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
MAMA, WILL IT SNOW TONIGHT?
by Nancy White Carlstrom and illustrated by Paul Tong

- BOOK REVIEW
IT’S YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, ANNIE CLAIRE
by Nancy White Carlstrom and illustrated by Margie Moore

- BOOK REVIEW
THIS IS THE DAY!
by Nancy White Carlstrom and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S HALLOWEEN

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK MAKES A FRIEND
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S VALENTINE
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

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ANIMAL SHAPES

by Christopher Silas Neal ; illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2018

Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.

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You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!

What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?

Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)