A little boy’s birth and growth proceeds parallel to that of several animals on the farm and in the wild. Baby chick, baby alligator and baby sea turtle all grow too big for their shells, just as the little boy grows too big for his mother’s tummy: “Soon they all came out— / and so did you!” His parents carry the little boy everywhere, just like little koala bear, baby kangaroo and tiger cub. First steps are followed by sleep, each in habitat or crib. But when the little boy grows even bigger, as marked against the ruled wall, a new big bed awaits, similar to the new stall for a foal and the doghouse for a puppy. Bergstein’s juxtaposition of animal behavior against human adds both comfort and acknowledgement of a little one’s movement from the familiar to the new. Hartung’s softly iridescent paintings add depth to the simple text in their depictions of animals and boy, each childhood milestone gently marked. A nice, if not startlingly new, addition to the genre. (Picture book. 2-4)
Pub Date: June 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-670-06079-5
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2008
The author-illustrator of Nice Work, Little Wolf! (1993) presents a pantomime, with a toddler announcing the actions of his animal friends and—in an irresistible invitation to young audiences to join in—imitating them on facing pages. The animals' movements are described in catchy verse (``First two little crows/pointed their toes...The monkey stretched his arms out wide./The hippo swayed from side to side./When everyone stamped and yelled for more,/the big gray elephant rolled on the floor''); simple directions for audience/participants are added in smaller type (``Grown-ups clap. [Children] Bow''). Offen's brightly colored pictures are robust and full of smiles. A charming introduction to theater, just right to share with a parent/toddler group. (Picture book. 2-4)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-525-45174-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1994
A simple, predictable story about a little rabbit who's too small to help his parents or join the play of his older siblings; fortunately, the tricycle Granpa has fixed for him is just the right size, as is Granpa's lap when they share a book later that evening. What makes this special is the lovingly detailed setting depicted in the colored pencil illustrations, which beautifully capture the autumnal woodland, the endearing rabbits, and their cozy relationships. These soft, warm drawings are precious, in the best sense. (Picture book. 2-4)
Pub Date: May 1, 1992
ISBN: 1-56402-028-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1992
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