Toddlers might “jump” for joy over this bouncy board book and its companions.
Frolic along with a little boy and his newly hatched chick friend as they demonstrate the titular actions and many more.
The book pops with clearly demonstrated action words. “Leap” sends boy and bird soaring upward, while the little chicky performs a cute tail “wiggle.” It’s all so inviting that children might find themselves wanting to “dance” or “stomp” right along. Sato scaffolds a simple visual narrative onto the words, beginning with the chick’s hatching, moving on to playtime, a tiff, and then forgiveness, and ending with bedtime and a peaceful “snooze.” For little listeners, it’s the perfect amount of plot and intrigue. A high-contrast palette of black, white, baby blue, and gold on brilliant Day-Glo blue background makes the duo burst off the page, and the lack of scenery keeps the spotlight on the buddies’ antics. Negative space defines the characters, who are created from simple but evocative rounded shapes (the chick resembles a curvy sweet potato). Expressive curved-line smiles, comically askew feet, triangle beak, and eye-catching motion lines make the vignettes feel exuberantly animated. Adding to its overall appeal, this is one durable book, with robustly textured pages that feel water-resistant and a sturdy binding. It’s part of a board-book trio, each with its own signature Day-Glo color and friendly animal foil. Happy Grumpy Loved explores feelings, while Hide Seek Stinky Sweet covers opposites.
Toddlers might “jump” for joy over this bouncy board book and its companions. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: June 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-946873-09-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: May 22, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Peek, and you’ll find a rollicking romp here.
The favorite game of toddlers gets a dino twist.
A large dinosaur tries to outsmart a smaller companion when the duo play peekaboo together. The big dino naïvely believes they won’t be noticed behind or under sundry hiding places, but the little pal always finds their playmate. Young listeners will giggle as the large dino attempts to outwit the little one, but in vain; in every instance, the diminutive, overalls-clad dino calls out a triumphant “Peekaboo!” How come? Is it because thin tree trunks and a potted plant can’t conceal the large dino’s frame? Do the big dino’s bold, flower-print shirts stick out a mile? Even when the large dinosaur attempts an aerial hiding place, they discover that ruse doesn’t, ahem, fly, nor does hiding in a crowd wearing a Where’s Waldo?–esque red-striped cap and T-shirt do any good. In a display of good sportsmanship, the big dino concedes at the end the game was fun. The youngest audiences, all of whom will have likely engaged in marathon peekaboo sessions themselves, will undoubtedly scramble to play again. Besides stimulating playtime, this adorable board book, expressed in lilting rhymes, boosts vocabulary development through the use of some common prepositions (behind, in) and adverbs (here, there, everywhere). The illustrations are sweetly engaging; the round cutout on the front cover invites youngsters to play peekaboo games with adult partners and others. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Peek, and you’ll find a rollicking romp here. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 3, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-66592-840-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Boynton Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
It’s not exactly original, but the execution, with familiar, appealing Cabrera illustrations, is attractive and perfect for...
This simple board book invites little ones to greet baby farm animals (including frog, bunny, and bee) with their corresponding sounds.
The first double-page spread greets readers with a bright yellow smiling sun and the text “Hello, Sun. / Hello, Day. / Wake up, babies. / Time to play!” Each succeeding spread has a distinct, gently patterned background, with very brief text on the verso (“Hello Puppy! / Woof Woof”). Filling up the recto is a vibrant illustration of the baby animal’s face, wide eyed and smiling, outlined in black. The final spread presents the face of a cute baby with chalky brown-gray skin, bright black eyes, and short black hair: “Goo Goo.” Babies and toddlers will enjoy looking at the baby faces, animals and human, and repeating the sounds. A companion book, Goodnight Bear, has a similar pattern of text and illustrations, though the palette is suitably darker. The moon, surprisingly, has its eyes shut, and succeeding spreads depict an owlet, a baby bat, a baby hedgehog, and other familiar nocturnal baby animals, all wide-awake and smiling. The final spread depicts a cute baby with pale skin, blond hair, and closed eyes.
It’s not exactly original, but the execution, with familiar, appealing Cabrera illustrations, is attractive and perfect for the target audience. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0430-0
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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