Very simple, Byron Barton–like art featuring a dozen mites with engagingly oversized, googly eyes overcomes iffy rhyming—and even iffier biology—to offer a deceptively sophisticated sequence of math and design concepts. It begins and ends with a “bug”—actually a caterpillar—who provides the supporting base for various combinations of creatures—from a spider and a pair of snails to worms, bees, and finally a tiny flea, all of whom arrive or depart piecemeal, perch together in various acrobatic architectures, then finally disperse after the inevitable collapse: “Look out—they’re falling! / The poor little things! / They all should go home / Before bedtime begins.” Verbal pratfalls aside, this makes a playful way to take that first, challenging step past simple addition, offering plenty of practice in both counting and pattern recognition. (Picture book. 3-4)
Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2005
ISBN: 1-894965-12-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simply Read
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2005
More kit than story, with some assembly required.
Two outings and a game of hide-and-seek in between add up to a perfect day for Peppa and friends in this four-spread TV-series spinoff.
First Peppa and her bubble-gum–pink family ride to the park (“Vroom!” says little George) for a healthy picnic packed by Daddy Pig. Then it’s home for playtime with Danny Dog and Suzy Sheep, until Grandpa Pig arrives with a boat big enough for all (“Ship ahoy!”). Children can embellish this stripped-down plotline on the foldout playscape attached to the back cover. All of the figures in the flat, very simple illustrations also come as punch-outs on a loose sheet, and there are corresponding slots in the detachable pop-up car and boat. Fans of the British series, which runs on Nick Jr. in the United States, may experience several moments of pleasure before the card-stock vehicles are crushed.
More kit than story, with some assembly required. (sticker sheet) (Pop-up/picture book. 3-4)Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6825-9
Page Count: 8
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
animals. An early start for the very young naturalist.
Bright color photographs in double-paged spreads depict tiny, hopping, emerald-colored tree-frogs, which decorate
woodlands around the world. In this simple board book, luscious green frogs with pumpkin-like eyes hop, glide, and ribbett in the trees. There's even a photo of a sleeping frog lying in the cradle of a leaf. On the back of the book five different tree frogs are shown and identified, proving these attractive amphibians really can be found around the world, not just in bins of plastic
animals. An early start for the very young naturalist. (Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club selection) (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-7922-7127-0
Page Count: 12
Publisher: National Geographic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2000
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