WHAT I LIKE MOST IN THE WORLD

Name: WHAT I LIKE MOST IN THE WORLD
Author: Noemí Pes

by Noemí Pes & illustrated by Luciano Lozano & developed by La Tortuga Casiopea ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 16, 2013

There’s a lot to recommend about the app, including that database. That could have been the star attraction instead of a...

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A feature-rich app for kids around the world about other kids from around the world in which the main story is outshone by abundant extras.

In a series of simple pencil-and-crayon drawings, scenes of children from all over the Earth serve to illustrate how they are all alike in fundamental ways. “All us kids like to dance,” one page reads, while another showing kids watching a 3-D movie says, “And we all like to observe.” The main story features narration read by children, and it fits the app’s homemade vibe. The narrative part of the app has no menus beyond a home button—only an ongoing swiping method of navigation. This would be fine, in a less-is-more app. But when readers scope the app’s other features, like a set of five games, a painting tool, and a remarkably robust and simple-to-use database of different world cultures as they relate to children, they may feel as if the main story was an afterthought. For instance, when a child in China is shown banging a gong, no gong sounds. That sound effect is used in one of the extra-feature games but not in the story itself, an odd, self-defeating choice.

There’s a lot to recommend about the app, including that database. That could have been the star attraction instead of a narrative that feels incomplete. (iPad storybook app. 2-7)

Pub Date: May 16, 2013

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: La Tortuga Casiopea

Review Posted Online: June 25, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2013

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HOW TO CATCH A REINDEER

by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 4, 2022

These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.

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The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.

Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022

ISBN: 9781728276137

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland

Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION

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Awards & Accolades

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Our Verdict

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IndieBound Bestseller

LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S CHRISTMAS

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...

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Awards & Accolades

Likes

19

Our Verdict

GET IT

IndieBound Bestseller

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)