Bland fare for bed jumpers, but the point about shared responsibility is a good one to make—blunted though it is by the...
If the bed won’t break with a bison bouncing on it, surely a few smaller animals won’t do any harm…will they?
“The bed starts to BEND. / The bed starts to SHAKE. / I really hope the bed won’t BREAK!” And it doesn’t—not even when first Aardvark and then Chipmunk climb aboard. But when Beetle bounds in, bedroom disaster ensues. This is followed by a round of finger-pointing that ends when a previously hidden grizzly bear rises from under the coverlet to blame all four and send them scurrying to make repairs. Though Bright gives the bearish climax a big buildup, Chatterton opts to present the grizzly in the cartoon illustrations in thoroughly unscary pajamas, bearing a tiny teddy bear and just a mildly irritated expression. And, when the bed’s fixed, the bear’s small frown suddenly changes to a grin as he invites one and all to join him in a fresh round of bouncy “FUN!” Bright genders the grizzly as male, but aside from stereotypical pink bow and eyelashes on Beetle, there are no other gender markers in the book.
Bland fare for bed jumpers, but the point about shared responsibility is a good one to make—blunted though it is by the ending. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-68010-006-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Jan. 8, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
As Winter Lullaby (1998) gives way to a new season, snow melts from highlands, reeds grow in wetlands, new grass shoots up, and cottonwoods bud, signaling the reappearance of bears and skunks, the call of frogs, the construction of new nests and tunnels. Alternating double-paged spreads show the wide sweep of a setting, then the animal that lives in it. Newbold's landscapes and wildlife portraits, all rendered in crisp detail and strong, sculpted-looking lines, seem to explode past the edges of the page, matching the rhythmic force of Seuling's rhymed question and answer text: "When reeds grow across the marshy wetlands, what do bullfrogs do?" [turn the page] "Croak the light long / their mating song." Seuling and Newbold play this seasonal wake-up tune with nary a false note. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: March 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-15-202317-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Brand-new readers need very easy stories with familiar situations that they can read over and over. The Bob Books still...
The Bob Books, long a staple in little square boxed sets for preschoolers, are now available in an early-reader format.
Big sister Anna and her brother Jack want a dog. Mom and Dad explain all the work a new dog will require. A trip to the Pet Shelter allows the family to pick out their new brown dog, Buddy. The two kids find their new canine friend has more energy than their house can contain. The easy solution—a trip to the park—tires out both Buddy and his new owners. Written by the daughter of the original Bob Book designers, this is sturdy and utilitarian. With both sight words and words that require basic decoding skills, these books are aimed directly at the young child who wants to pick up and read a book from start to finish. On the last pages are flash cards, ready to cut out, showing a word on one side and a picture and sentence from the book using that word on the other. Jack and Anna are drawn with a little more detail than their predecessors, including colored clothing and background. The friendly typeface is easy to read and clear. Kindergarten teachers and parents of children on the cusp of reading will find this series helpful.
Brand-new readers need very easy stories with familiar situations that they can read over and over. The Bob Books still deliver, even if they don't have much pizzazz. (Early reader. 4-6)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-38268-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 20, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2012
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