by Scholastic Inc. ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 27, 2016
Although toddlers and preschoolers may enjoy the sliders, this book doesn’t establish an impressive identity as either a...
This board book features dinosaurs, interactive sliders, and the numbers one through 10.
One large dinosaur is shown on each double-page spread, along with three bright-colored sliders that are fun for little fingers to slide and explore. A bold, contrasting numeral is printed on each slider, and that number is spelled out in lowercase letters. Each slider moves either vertically or horizontally by means of a small finger hole or two, revealing a group of dinosaurs corresponding to the number on the slider. Each dinosaur is named, and its pronunciation is included, but no further information is given. The dinosaurs are not rendered to scale. The main dinosaur in each double-page spread is large, familiar, relatively detailed, and vividly textured (Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor, etc.), while the dinosaurs in the sliding windows are much smaller, less familiar, and may be difficult for young children to count and pronounce. Some questions posed do not connect with the right numbers; “How many horns does Triceratops have?” is asked on the spread that presents numerals 4 and 5, while “How many legs does Ankylosaurus have?” is featured along with numerals 9 and 10.
Although toddlers and preschoolers may enjoy the sliders, this book doesn’t establish an impressive identity as either a counting book or a book about dinosaurs. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Dec. 27, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-545-90346-2
Page Count: 8
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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by Nicola Edwards ; illustrated by Thomas Elliott ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2018
A snore for all but the most avid toddler paleontologists.
After busy days spent doing what dinos do, nine colorful dinosaurs happily bed down for the night protected by a loving adult dino.
Each sleepy dinosaur inhabits a fanciful environment, though it is unclear whether they are based on known information about where dinosaurs lived. There is nothing ferocious or threatening about these dinosaurs. Nor are they likely to excite young paleontologists, as the purpose of the book is to convince young children to go to sleep, just like each of the dinosaurs. The singsong-y verses don’t really work as poetry. Uneven meter makes for an awkward read-aloud experience, and forced rhymes (“Mom” and “calm”; “leaves” and “trees”) are a bit of a stretch. Similarly, touch-and-feel elements added to one of the dinosaurs on each spread feel arbitrary and are more distraction than successful additions. Even toddlers will wonder why only one of each set of dinosaurs has this tactile element. Each spread ends with a “Good night” followed by an alliterative nickname: “Dozing Diplos”; “Resting Raptors”; “Tiny Pteros”; “Snoozing Spinos.” This affectation will turn off adults with a low tolerance for cute and potentially confuse readers just beginning to learn dinosaur names.
A snore for all but the most avid toddler paleontologists. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-680105-48-3
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
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by Nicola Edwards ; illustrated by Maria Neradova
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by Nicola Edwards ; illustrated by Thomas Elliott
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by Nicola Edwards ; illustrated by Thomas Elliott
by Lo Cole ; illustrated by Lo Cole ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2020
Who knew that turning the pages could be the best part of a book?
The concept of this picture book is simple enough: 10 birds topple, slip, and dive their way off the titular twig until there is one left. The text itself echoes familiar singsong-y children’s rhymes like “Five Little Pumpkins.” While it mostly succeeds, there are some awkward spots: “5 on a twig, there used to be more… / SNAP! Don’t say a word, now there are four.” (On each page the number is both spelled out and represented as a numeral). The real scene stealer, however, is the book’s interplay between Cole’s illustrations and the physical pages themselves. In much the same way Eric Carle utilizes the pages in The Very Hungry Caterpillar to show the little critter eating its way through the week, Cole uses pages of increasing width to show how the twig grows shorter as each bird falls and marches off purposefully with the others, all headed toward verso with pieces of twig in their beaks. Stylistically, the book is captivating. The very colorful, egg-shaped birds appear on a single, thin black line on a stark white background. This backdrop stands in powerful contrast to the book’s final two pages, which are set against black negative space, a theme echoed in the book’s feather-print endpapers. The heavy, thick pages make it easy for little hands to participate. The text takes a back seat to the playful and compelling design, which is sure to delight readers.
Who knew that turning the pages could be the best part of a book? (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-72821-593-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
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