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MY SPANISH TOUCH-AND-FEEL BOOK OF COLORS

Against white backgrounds, objects of the same color are grouped, spread by spread. Red/rojo features las fresas (strawberries), los corazones (hearts, in this case the Valentine’s Day variety) and las mariquitas (ladybugs), as well as a couple of items that are not sui generis red, el auto (car) and los guantes (gloves, or, as pictured here but not glossed as such, mittens). Los guantes are also fuzzy; each spread includes one tactile element, including a shiny, ridged fish (el pez), roughly sparkly stars (las estrellas) and the smooth belly of a frog (la rana). The busy-ness of the layout steers this title to a slightly older audience than the author’s elegantly simple My Colors/Mis Colores (2000), but it has the virtue of a larger vocabulary. Buy as an adjunct to, not a replacement for, the earlier title. (Ages 1-3)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-316-07404-9

Page Count: 12

Publisher: LB Kids/Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2009

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SMILE, POUT-POUT FISH

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

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LLAMA LLAMA SHAPES

From the Learning With Llama Llama series

An invitation for readers to learn through observation.

Llama Llama and Mama spot different shapes at the farmers market.

Dewdney’s iconic llama stars in this board book, a part of the Learning With Llama Llama series. The story showcases five shapes: rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, and stars. Rather than simply showing the shapes and naming them, illustrator Morrow embeds them inside scenes from the farmers market. Each page turn uncovers a different shape. Signage and a shopping bag pop as rectangles, while umbrellas, a slice of watermelon, and the peaks of the tents form triangles. Shapes that appeared on previous pages are visible even as the story progresses, and the final page helps readers revisit and recall shapes they’ve already found. There are plenty of engaging details to keep readers looking, including other animal shoppers, kite-flying, and sudden, surprising rain. The text is concise, and each spread features a simple question inviting participation. This title is more captivating than other shape concept books, especially those that show block-colored shapes without context. Llama Llama’s popularity will make this a hit with fans, and readers looking for substance will find it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An invitation for readers to learn through observation. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-593-46509-7

Page Count: 14

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022

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