Useful for caregivers who already practice Pilates but for newbies, not so much.
Given the recent popularity of yoga and mindfulness practices, it was only a matter of time before someone would publish a sturdy board book that purports to teach Pilates to preschoolers.
Ouerghi uses metaphor to illustrate 12 exercises that are strikingly similar to yoga poses. Her brief introduction doesn’t explain the difference between yoga and Pilates. A list of tips on the following page alludes to Pilates’ slower pace, but actual instruction is minimal, with no guidance as to the speed at which the exercises should be done or how many times they should be repeated. Eleven exercises follow, one per double-page spread. On verso, children are told to imagine being an animal, a boat, a bridge, or even pencils, while fanciful pictures hint at the prescribed exercise. For example, above a picture of two bears—one roasting marshmallows and the other using a saw (bizarrely) to shave bark off a log—text reads, “Imagine that your hands can saw through wood.” This will not help youngsters understand the seated alternate twist pictured on the right. Similarly, cute monkeys cutting paper in a tree seem unrelated to the scissor kick. On each recto, numbered illustrations of a child modeling the actions accompany rather cryptic instructions. The children display a variety of skin tones.
Useful for caregivers who already practice Pilates but for newbies, not so much. (Board book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-63322-589-3
Page Count: 30
Publisher: Walter Foster Jr.
Review Posted Online: June 10, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed.
This book presents a simplified explanation of the role the atmosphere plays in controlling climate.
The authors present a planet as a ball and its atmosphere as a blanket that envelops the ball. If the blanket is thick, the planet will be hot, as is the case for Venus. If the blanket is thin, the planet is cold, as with Mars. Planet Earth has a blanket that traps “just the right amount of heat.” The authors explain trees, animals, and oceans are part of what makes Earth’s atmosphere “just right.” “But…Uh-oh! People on Earth are changing the blanket!” The book goes on to explain how some human activities are sending “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere, thus “making the blanket heavier and thicker” and “making Earth feel unwell.” In the case of a planet feeling unwell, what would the symptoms be? Sea-level rises that lead to erosion, flooding, and island loss, along with extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires. Ending on a constructive note, the authors name a few of the remedies to “help our Earth before it’s too late!” By using the blanket analogy, alongside simple and clear illustrations, this otherwise complex topic becomes very accessible to young children, though caregivers will need to help with the specialized vocabulary.
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed. (Board book. 3-4)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8082-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
Good interactive fun for tots.
“Bugsy Bug is going to see his grandma”—but is not sure how to get there. By following the clues, readers can help him find her.
When they open the cover of this log-shaped board book, readers will find a veritable bug metropolis thriving inside. Cartoon-style illustrations in appropriately earthy tones depict ants, bees, worms, ladybugs, crickets, and a whole host more of not-so-identifiable critters. Stairs, hallways, and ladders lead to homes; shops, a cafe, and a restaurant; a library (with bookworms, of course!); and even a big, scary spider web. As Bugsy Bug asks for directions to his grandma’s house, friendly bugs give him instructions: “Go through the door by the bee in a bow tie.” When readers explore the different lift-the-flap doors on each double-page spread they will find amusing little scenes taking place behind most doors. The correct door has a die-cut opening leading to the next page. In addition to the action taking place behind the doors, each page turn is full of little details that will keep readers lingering before they move on. The amount of text per page, the busyness of the illustrations, and the dexterity required to lift the flaps without tearing them off the page altogether indicate an audience of older toddlers and preschoolers.
Good interactive fun for tots. (Board book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9322-0
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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