New and pre-readers will flip.
Split pages allow young Dr. Moreaus to create new animals by mixing and matching the tops and bottoms of a dozen sea creatures.
In this nautical variation on Flip Flap Farm (2014), accompanying labels and (anonymous) verses introduce a sea lion and then a shark that can be altered with a flip of either half page to become a “sea lark” or a “shion”—or, with the ensuing octopus, an “oction” or (going on) any of over 100 other chimerical creatures. Though the colors often clash violently, in his simply drawn paintings Scheffler designs the smiling figures so that the forms of the interchangeable parts match reasonably well, and the combination of spiral binding and heavy card-stock pages ensures at least some resistance to wear and tear. As a sort of bonus, the verses add light doses of fact: “You’ll see my fin from far away, / as it stands up so tall. / My jaws are full of pointy teeth— / I’ve hundreds all in all!”
New and pre-readers will flip. (Picture book/novelty. 3-5)Pub Date: June 12, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9942-0
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A decidedly mixed bag of ideas that does not quite come together.
This unusual board book is a visual ode to both the rectangular and things that open and close.
In these nearly wordless pages, Jullien presents the gaping mouth of a monster, an aerial view of a tennis court, and the keyboard of a piano, to name a few, in droll cartoons employing thick, black lines. The ideas here range from the clever (the image of a youngster reading inside a tent encourages readers to stand up the book as if it were a tent) to the everyday and banal (the inside of a toolbox), often encouraging youngsters to change the orientation of the book. Very young children, who are the core board-book readers, may appreciate the items that are the most identifiable, particularly the open refrigerator and butterfly. The open laptop, complete with keyboard, may prove a dated reference to tablet-wielding toddlers. A double gatefold (the only one) opens up to a kid reading a book titled This Is a Book, but there is no setup for this revelation. The page turn that reveals white buttocks (with the crack running down the gutter) will prompt a few giggles once it’s parsed. While Jullien’s art is delightful, it is a shame he couldn’t diversify the subjects in these scenes; few, if any, of the people depicted are people of color.
A decidedly mixed bag of ideas that does not quite come together. (Board book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 28, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7148-7112-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Phaidon
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
For little artists eager to spread some cheer with their glitter pens—on paper, of course.
Gloria, a little rhino, loves to spread “glittery happiness” in all her ventures.
Even though glitter is not a color, it is still Gloria’s favorite, as she uses it for everything she owns, giving her pants, slippers, and even scooter that extra “glitterama-razzamatazz.” Gloria scoots through town unperturbed about all the extra glitter she accidentally deposits on everyone and everything, leaving the town’s menagerie of anthropomorphic animal residents quite annoyed. “She glitzed up the plumbers, she spangled the drummers, she spritzed up the teachers and the long-distance runners.” Sweet, colorful cartoon paintings against a stark white background depict vexed workers and citizens, each with dabs of sparkly glitter on faces, feet, and bums. Protests of “No more glitter, Gloria!” are ignored by the little rhino, and, when everyone tries to clean up, things just get even messier. Then laughter breaks out, with the town finally accepting the happiness that Gloria’s trail of glitter inspires. Gloria’s unruffled composure makes for a whimsical counterpoint to the mostly rhyming text, the irregularity of which works surprisingly well. “Soon Gloria’s glitter had covered the entire town! There was some on the tower / and lots on the steeple, / As well as the market / and all of the people.”
For little artists eager to spread some cheer with their glitter pens—on paper, of course. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-68010-039-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Jan. 31, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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