Suitably restful and soothing bedtime fare for youngsters.
Owls roost in a tree, “hoppy” bunnies burrow under flower beds, and field mice nestle in poppy flowers, to name a few. At least one of the featured animals in each spread is a cutout pasted onto the page, and die-cut holes in each page allow these critters to literally nestle as pages are turned, adding some tactile interest for young children. One or two lines of pedantic, rhymed couplets are sprinkled throughout the full-bleed, double-page spreads. In the lovely art, the animals live in dreamy landscapes of rich orange, yellow, purple, and red against deep blue-black backgrounds, successfully balancing a hint of realism with an adorable coziness. On the final pages, a grown blue songbird is enticed back to the nest to meet three yellow, newly hatched chicks. An older sibling? A straying spouse? Readers probably won’t wonder that hard. While the book does not present a realistic nighttime scene, as many of these animals are nocturnal or crepuscular, parents and caregivers will appreciate the title’s soporific qualities.
Suitably restful and soothing bedtime fare for youngsters. (Board book. 6 mos.-3)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68010-640-4
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
<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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character.
One of Boynton's signature characters celebrates Halloween.
It's Halloween time, and Pookie the pig is delighted. Mom helps the little porker pick out the perfect Halloween costume, a process that spans the entire board book. Using an abcb rhyme scheme, Boynton dresses Pookie in a series of cheerful costumes, including a dragon, a bunny, and even a caped superhero. Pookie eventually settles on the holiday classic, a ghost, by way of a bedsheet. Boynton sprinkles in amusing asides to her stanzas as Pookie offers costume commentary ("It's itchy"; "It's hot"; "I feel silly"). Little readers will enjoy the notion of transforming themselves with their own Halloween costumes while reading this book, and a few parents may get some ideas as well. Boynton's clean, sharp illustrations are as good as ever. This is Pookie's first holiday title, but readers will surely welcome more.
A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-553-51233-5
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Robin Corey/Random
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
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