Archer offers a little book of baby rhymes with a feeling of the past. It’s hard to resist “Giggles”—“Wiggle my ears / And wiggle my nose, / ’Cause wiggles make giggles— / That’s how it goes.” Dad, Mom, PapPap and big brother all make appearances as the verse, always in Baby’s voice, addresses shadows, first steps, making messes, taking a bath and other baby events. Wakiyama’s pictures, generally on ivory backgrounds, use vintage colors, Kewpie-doll faces and ’40s-inspired motifs to cheery effect. A few full-page images add texture—for instance, father and child in a lemon-yellow convertible with the seats full of groceries and flowers as they drive along an ocean-side road. Some of the rhymes have a bit of clunky awkwardness, but the whole is a pretty, old-fashioned package. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: June 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2467-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2007
Old MacDonald had a farm, and on his farm animals pop up, wiggle, and roll their eyeballs. This hilarious paper-engineered version of the classic song will engage readers of all ages. The illustrations are amiable cartoons, while the mechanics of the pop-ups are superb. Old MacDonald’s tractor shakes its rear tires; a row of hungry cows roll their eyes and chew their cuds with enthusiasm. Not only are the movements funny, but the pull-tabs are tough—this book was designed to handle heavy use—and will probably survive even library circulation. (Pop-up. 2-5)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-531-30129-X
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Orchard
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1999
A heartwarming take on the familiar nursery rhyme.
Itsy Bitsy leads a solitary and comfortable, if not altogether content, existence in a web on a watering can…until disaster strikes.
Alas, a small tree branch falls on the web, and Itsy goes tumbling. Looking for another home, the spider spies the area between a waterspout and roof and begins to move there. Then the wind starts blowing, and then the rain comes, and then, well, as the rhyme goes, Itsy gets washed out only to try again. What makes this tale particularly appealing is the whimsical artwork, which amplifies the spare narrative with numerous other storylines: Small anthropomorphized bugs (of which Itsy is one) are picnicking, playing music, and socializing (which cleverly sets up the denouement) when the unsettling weather comes along. The bugs begin to help each other get to safety, and when all get washed out, they all try again—together. This message of picking oneself up after disappointment is delivered playfully, making it appropriately effective for young readers, and the final double-page spread illustration lightly delivers the affirmative ending message: Having friends and helping each other are happier ways to live. The book is well designed, with a variety of visual treatments. Bordered images indicate a sense of containment, while spot art emphasizes forward movement. Double-page spreads highlight expansion and activity. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A heartwarming take on the familiar nursery rhyme. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781536225297
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
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