Just fine for an extra reading hug at bedtime.
A penguin parent assures a penguin child that love will always be there.
The bowling-pin–shaped adult penguin is purple and smiles affectionately at its rounded, slightly-brighter-purple little one, while qualifying the various circumstances that might modify the declaration in the opening pages: “I will never let you go.” “Except” continues the large penguin speaking to the small penguin, “when you need to go to the bathroom.” And eat lunch or draw a picture. “But other than that, little one…I will never let you go.” And then, amusingly, some more exceptions: “when you have to chase the stars,” “throw a tantrum,” “need some quiet time”—and finally: “want to play with your friends.” Here the little penguin is seen happily bouncing away to a group of young penguins but returning to give a reassuring hug to the loving big penguin and repeat the words: “I will never let you go.” The digitally colored brush, ink, and charcoal art is simple and clear, and the humor and truth of the exceptions woven into the hyperbolic promise of “never” keep the message of unconditional love (except possibly for that tantrum) from being saccharine or claustrophobic.
Just fine for an extra reading hug at bedtime. (Picture book. 18 mos.-4)Pub Date: Nov. 6, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5107-3871-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Review Posted Online: July 29, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.
This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.
Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery.
A troop of cats traverse a spooky landscape as they make their way to a party hosted by ghosts.
Each double-page spread shows the felines’ encounters with the likes of an owl, jack-o’-lanterns or a bat. One or two of these creepy meetings may be too abstract for the youngest readers, as the cats hear eerie noises with no discernible source on the page. The text, which consists of one rhyming couplet per scene, mostly scans despite a couple of wobbles: “Five black cats get a bit of a scare / As the flip-flapping wings of a bat fill the air.” The sleek, slightly retro art, likely created using a computer, depicts the cats cavorting at night through a shadowy cityscape, the countryside and a haunted house; they may scare some toddlers and delight others. A brighter color palette would have given the project a friendlier, more universal appeal. Luckily, the well-lit, final party scene provides a playful conclusion.
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-58925-611-8
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
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