Sure to get a toddler’s gears turning, in more ways than one.
Mechanics made easy for pint-sized engineers.
This ingenious, interactive volume offers the toddler set an entertaining and engaging introduction to working gears. A colorful, friendly-looking robot teaches a basic principle of mechanics by introducing children to a simple system of interlocking gears. Die-cut holes in the cover, and in each succeeding page till the last, progressively reveal seven working, interconnected gears of different colors and sizes. The book is well-designed—easy for young fingers to operate safely and durable enough to withstand the inevitable tugs and grabbing of inquisitive toddler hands. The book is set up so that at the beginning the child spins only the first, purple “master gear,” touching the side opposite the teeth of the hidden second gear; this arrangement doesn’t appear to allow space for even tiny fingers to get caught up in the mechanism. As the first gear turns, children can see the final gear turn, but they can’t yet see the series of connections that makes that possible. Each turn of the page reveals another gear, until the entire system is exposed. Rhyming couplets explain the process; along the way the gears teach children seven different colors. Day-Glo colors stand out against the black backgrounds. Astute children may notice that the system of gearing corresponds exactly to that visible in the body of the robot.
Sure to get a toddler’s gears turning, in more ways than one. (Board book. 18 mos-5)Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-338-15164-0
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A winner.
A mundane task fills with delicious thrills.
Lucy asks permission to play with her new red wagon, so mom agreeably sends her to market with it—but, hmm, “That sounded like a chore. Lucy didn’t want to do chores.” Never fear; this journey is anything but dull. Adroitly pairing innocently understated prose with pictures of simple but imaginative adventures, Liwska invites readers to giggle at Lucy’s impressive escapades that unfold entirely visually. When the rainy countryside becomes a roaring ocean, the wagon’s a sailboat riding cresting waves. The wagon also becomes a rocket ship, a train, a construction-site truck and a covered wagon. At the carnival/circus (market), “Lucy neatly loaded the wagon with vegetables from her list”—by juggling them with help from a trapeze flyer. The illustrator’s pencil work is nimble, her backgrounds airy and free, with hatched grasses for these child animals—cousins of her characters in Deborah Underwood’s Quiet Book (2010)—to romp in. The colors glow softly. Red wagon’s last role? The perfect nap-spot for a girl all played out.
A winner. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-399-25237-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2010
Overall, a delightful collection—priced so that it’s easy to buy several to give as gifts.
Looking for an attractive compendium of nursery rhymes, songs, games, and lullabies all in one place? These 192 pages will deliver the goods, and then some.
The one-page introduction emphasizes the importance of nursery rhymes in the lives of young children: they engage the imagination, develop skills, and foster a love of reading and the spoken word. The contents are organized into six categories that bundle together songs, action rhymes, rhymes about animals, games, counting rhymes, and lullabies. The rhymes are set on full pages or double-page spreads and illustrated with an overall retro look in a mix of styles and media that incorporates thumbprints, collage, cut paper, childlike cartoons, dramatic use of display type, and more. “I’m a Little Teapot” features smiling faces on teapot and cup and a palette of pink, red, and teal, while “Old MacDonald” is rendered in a folk-art style that pops with bright yellows, reds, and greens. Instructions for the action rhymes and the games appear in teeny tiny print at the end of each respective chapter. The die-cut board cover is a plus, as it will stand up to repeated readings. Though each rhyme is illustrated differently, unfortunately and strangely, there is no credit or acknowledgement of the artists. While some of the graphic settings are so overdesigned they are difficult to read, there are so many rhymes that it’s easy enough to skip several and still feel sated.
Overall, a delightful collection—priced so that it’s easy to buy several to give as gifts. (Nursery rhymes. 1-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62686-683-6
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Silver Dolphin
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
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