by Nina Laden ; illustrated by Nina Laden ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 29, 2017
A soon-to-be favorite that kids will love hearing, and, later, paging through by themselves.
A rhyming and guessing delight for infants and toddlers.
The latest entry in author Laden’s popular Peek-a series takes readers on a fun-filled trip to a farm in search of agricultural rhymes for “Moo.” The words “Peek a” challenge children to guess who or what lies on the other side of the die-cut window on the opposite page. Behind a field of sprouting green shoots is a full-grown tomato (“Peek a GREW!”); a feed bag conceals a toothy nag chomping on hay (“Peek a CHEW!”). A rooster (“Peek a COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!”), a sheep (“Peek a EWE!”), and a mirror (“Peek a YOU, TOO!”) round out the festivities. The book is just right for small hands, and it’s sturdy enough to withstand them. The artwork is irresistible: bright colors show off the simple but elegant design. The images are deceptively cartoonish, even crude at first glance, but every drawing is embellished with meticulous, symmetrical shading suggestive of woodblock prints. The animals have loads of personality; the farming scenes and props are uncluttered, with just the right amount of detail. The rhyme scheme makes the vocabulary easy to remember, and, while the gags may not set new standards in literary humor, the element of page-turning surprise and the ever popular peekaboo motif should have little ones howling with laughter.
A soon-to-be favorite that kids will love hearing, and, later, paging through by themselves. (Board book. 6 mos.-5)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4521-5474-9
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018
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by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 23, 2014
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own...
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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by Rose Rossner ; illustrated by Jessica Gibson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 2, 2021
<p>Perfectly fine but nothing new.</p>
Caregiver-child love abounds in this rhyming board book full of animal puns.
One thing’s for certain, there’s plenty of sweet (and groanworthy) sentiments in this book. Rossner writes, “Giving HOGS and kisses / sends me to the moon!” and, “I’m such a lucky DUCK. / You really QUACK me up!” The book progresses entirely in this fashion, with a new animal pair and pun with each page turn. It reads well as a book for a caregiver to share with a lap-sitting child. On that mark, it succeeds in providing plenty of opportunities for giggles and snuggles. That said, at times the meter is forced, making the cadence a bit stilted, and the cuddles/bubbles rhyme is a dubious one. This is an issue for a book that will almost solely be read aloud. Gibson’s illustrations are very charming; the animals and insects with big eyes and expressive faces have high appeal. The warmth of the animals’ embraces and cuddles translates well from the page, inviting the same snuggles from readers. Decorated eggs appear on each page, and the bunny pair from the cover features prominently. Overall, the concept and message of the book are high interest and age-appropriate, but it doesn’t stand out from the very crowded shelf of “I love you, little one!” books similar to it.
<p>Perfectly fine but nothing new.</p> (Board book. 6 mos.-2)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-7282-2343-8
Page Count: 25
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
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