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LET'S FIX UP THE YARD

Even toddler tool enthusiasts may find this a mess despite the graphic simplicity.

Little ones can learn about all the tools and machines involved in yard maintenance.

On each verso, one of these tools—such as a lawn mower, a hose, or a hedge trimmer—is pictured against a white background accompanied by the repeated “We’ll need” across the top and the caption labeling this object at bottom to complete the sentence. On the facing page, faceless, gender-indeterminate figures with either black or white circles for heads use said tool accompanied by a four- to five-word explanation. While Pizzo’s stylistic imagery is direct and graphically clean, it is a bit disorienting. It looks as if the figures are working on a specific project, but it is unclear where the leaves are coming from on the leaf-blower page, why holes need to be dug on the shovel spread, and where “concrete” is being poured to demonstrate the “cement mixer.” A companion title, Let’s Fix up the House, is equally disorienting, as there is no presentation of any start-to-finish project. Walls are demolished with a sledgehammer, tiles are laid, and lumber is sawed with little explanation. While one must admire a board book that includes a chainsaw, it ultimately disappointments with disjointed scenes and a lack of any overall framing.

Even toddler tool enthusiasts may find this a mess despite the graphic simplicity. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: April 28, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-7643-5915-6

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Schiffer

Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020

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ROSA LOVES CARS

From the All About Rosa series

An effervescent celebration of play in the early years.

As with Spanyol’s stellar Clive books, Rosa’s favorite activities buck gender stereotypes.

The toddler races toy cars, jumps monster trucks, and builds a car out of a cardboard box with her buddies in what looks like a day care or preschool setting. Spanyol’s childlike lines, soft palette, and chunky figures are as cheerful as ever. The text is mostly straightforward, simple narration peppered with exclamations from Rosa and her chums: “Rosa and Marcel play in the sandpit. ‘Dig-a-dig, dig-a-dig, scoop!’ sings Rosa.” Rosa has brown skin and black, curly hair, and she wears bright yellow eyeglasses. Her friends include Samira, who uses a wheelchair and is likely of South Asian descent; Mustafa, who appears black; Biba, who has light-brown skin and straight, black hair; and Sarah and Marcel, who both present white. Three other equally charming titles accompany this offering. In Rosa and Her Dinosaurs, the heroine dons a purple dress and plays with a collection of toy dinosaurs. Rosa and her buds (all wearing helmets) roll through the pages of Rosa Rides Her Scooter. And in Rosa Plays Ball, Rosa pushes a cart with various kinds of balls to toss about with her friends outside.

An effervescent celebration of play in the early years. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-78628-125-8

Page Count: 14

Publisher: Child's Play

Review Posted Online: Dec. 4, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019

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YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

A fun but inessential novelty, as much toy as book.

A familiar song repackaged as a board book doubles as a finger puppet.

Many a caregiver has sung this refrain to a newborn or toddler, ignoring the decidedly sad lyrics of the original. Magsamen lays claim and sweetens it up. She uses only the chorus and changes the last line to “I’ll give you lots of hugs… / and kisses every day” instead of the expected “Please don’t take my sunshine away.” Her cheery artwork, reminiscent of applique, recalls the song’s country-music roots and is anything but sad. The pages are decorated with hearts and cuddly-looking caregiver-child animal pairs—foxes, skunks with sunny yellow umbrellas, bunnies, raccoons, and squirrels. The thick, heart-shaped pages include a circular die-cut hole through which readers might poke the smiling felt sun puppet attached to the back cover. A finger inserted from the back makes the sun wiggle and will capture even the youngest baby’s attention. The puppet feature does not obstruct the initial page turns, but when a toddler says, “Do it again” (as they doubtless will), quickly re-positioning the finger puppet is somewhat challenging.

A fun but inessential novelty, as much toy as book. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)

Pub Date: Dec. 26, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-338-30576-0

Page Count: 6

Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019

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