An entertaining, well-designed introduction to the ocean world.
Every page of this pull-the-tab book features weird and wonderful marine life hiding in a vibrantly illustrated underwater environment.
Many of the tabs reveal information about the creatures’ bodies, behaviors, and habitats. Revealed with an upward pull, the father sea horse, for example, cares for his babies “behind the seaweed,” referencing the phenomenon that sea horses carry and hatch the young of the species. Similarly, a squirting squid hides in a “cloud of ink,” referring to the squid’s ink sacs. The bottom of each double-page spread also contains a more explicit fact, such as the fact that squids have three hearts. The illustrations are colorful and detailed, giving young children plenty to look at while they are listening to the text. Some of the text guides readers through the book by posing questions that can be answered by pulling the tabs; other tabs ask readers to do things like identify starfish by their colors or count sea gulls that multiply with the pull of a cleverly telescoping tab. The book is well designed—the tabs are furnished with grommets, and they are large and easy to manipulate—and while the text is sparse, its simplicity makes it perfect for very young children.
An entertaining, well-designed introduction to the ocean world. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-338-36004-2
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
It’s not the sturdiest, but this French import is good for a practice run or two before trying the real thing.
With help from pull-tabs (but not visible grown-ups), Miki the lion dons trousers, a sweater, and other clothes before going out to play.
The relatively fragile tabs won’t survive more than a few hard yanks, but the motions they create—pulling green pants up, blue sweater down, orange (pre-tied, or perhaps equipped with elastic rather than laces) shoes on, and finally a red raincoat over all—are realistic if abbreviated. (Just let the fact that he starts out with socks and blue boxers already on slide.) It’s all a setup for an exuberant pop-up surprise at the end as Miki heads outdoors to take a wild leap into a rain puddle as a snail benevolently looks on. Budding fashionistas may find more-stylish dressing guides such as Margaret Chodos-Irvine’s Ella Sarah Gets Dressed (2003) or Denise Fleming’s Maggie and Michael Get Dressed (2016) more to their taste, but younger cubs just getting into the swing of doing-it-myself may appreciate these elementally simple hints as well as the unseen voice that keeps Miki on task: “Oh, it’s raining, Miki! We’re going to get soaked!” Miki obligingly replies, “All right, I’ll put on my red raincoat.”
It’s not the sturdiest, but this French import is good for a practice run or two before trying the real thing. (Pop-up picture book. 2-3)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-2-40801-972-3
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Twirl/Chronicle
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Developmentally dull; there's nothing to cheer about here.
This box proves a bust.
The long case holds four separate books; two focus on animals living on the farm and the savanna, and the others describe pets and babies. Cartoon panels provide factual tidbits. The text, though for the most part accurate, lacks the energy to inspire a young audience. “The male duck is called a drake.” An imposing photograph appears opposite the panels, containing a circle cutout with material meant to provide a tactile experience of the animal. (The gimmick often fails; the baby panda’s coat is virtually indistinguishable from the penguin chick’s fuzzy feathers). A caption supplies the appropriate sound (“The lion roars”). Unfortunately, the photographs consistently fail to convey any sense of sound; if an animal's mouth is open, it is to eat or play (the lion cub appears more interested in gnawing on a stick than making any noise at all). Poor quality of materials (foam for the pink pig) makes for a lackluster tactile experience. The touch-and-feel design leads to comically contradictory statements; the back of the container encourages this format for “young toddlers,” while a concluding note reads, “not suitable for children under 36 months.”
Developmentally dull; there's nothing to cheer about here. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-2-7338-1820-6
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Auzou Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 29, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
