A solid read-aloud with lots of opportunities to oink, caw, and chuckle together.
An interactive exploration of animal sounds, in the vein of Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
The book’s opening spread establishes a pattern: A full-color portrait of an animal’s face fills the left-hand page, while a handful of words appear on the right. An unseen narrator asks the titular question. A page turn reveals the answer: a lively illustration of a wide-eyed feline paired with the words “A cat meows.” The rhythmic text creates a rollicking cadence, aided by the book’s design. The color of the text on each spread matches a prominent hue in the illustration of the animal. The next question also appears, smaller and in a different color, on the bottom right of the spread, inviting children to turn the page to find out “who gobbles?” or “who hoots?” Details such as the pig’s eyelashes or the owl’s plumage stand out. With their mouths agape (as though making their sound), some creatures appear startled, while others look downright menacing. The final question—“Who giggles?”—is accompanied by an image of a tan-skinned, dark-haired child: “You giggle! And giggle and giggle and giggle.” Appended facts about animal sounds add depth to this simple and engaging book.
A solid read-aloud with lots of opportunities to oink, caw, and chuckle together. (Informational picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 27, 2025
ISBN: 9781665959568
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A successful swap from coconut tree to Christmas tree.
A Christmas edition of the beloved alphabet book.
The story starts off nearly identically to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989), written by John Archambault and the late Bill Martin Jr, with the letters A, B, and C deciding to meet in the branches of a tree. This time, they’re attempting to scale a Christmas tree, not a coconut tree, and the letters are strung together like garland. A, B, and C are joined by the other letters, and of course they all “slip, slop, topple, plop!” right down the tree. At the bottom, they discover an assortment of gifts, all in a variety of shapes. As a team, the letters and presents organize themselves to get back up on the Christmas tree and get a star to the top. Holiday iterations of favorite tales often fall flat, but this take succeeds. The gifts are an easy way to reinforce another preschool concept—shapes—and the text uses just enough of the original to be familiar. The rhyming works, sticking to the cadence of the source material. The illustrations pay homage to the late Lois Ehlert’s, featuring the same bold block letters, though they lack some of the whimsy and personality of the original. Otherwise, everything is similarly brightly colored and simply drawn. Those familiar with the classic will be drawn to this one, but newcomers can enjoy it on its own.
A successful swap from coconut tree to Christmas tree. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781665954761
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
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