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OCEAN ANIMALS FROM HEAD TO TAIL

Name: OCEAN ANIMALS FROM HEAD TO TAIL
Author: Stacey Roderick
ISBN: 978-1-77138-345-5

From the Head to Tail series

by Stacey Roderick ; illustrated by Kwanchai Moriya ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 6, 2016

For toddlers and preschoolers, an inviting opportunity to swim into the underwater world.

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A guessing game introduces curious ocean animals from hammerhead sharks to sea horses.

Each animal is presented in a pair of double-page spreads. The first shows part of an animal's body and asks, "What ocean animal has a [body part] like this!" Clean, collage illustrations (created digitally with original photographs and textures) show an eye, mouth, fin, and so forth against a white background. The entire animal, set against a stylized version of its ocean habitat, appears on the second spread along with its name and a short informational paragraph. The relatively simple text nicely explains the purpose of the particular feature and, often, how it works. The animals chosen are iconic and memorable, including a colossal squid, blue whale, moray eel, sailfish, green sea turtle, and sea anemone. A final spread introduces eight more animals with interesting and unusual body parts. The information is accurate and up-to-date, but no sources are given. The collages are reminiscent of the work of Steve Jenkins but not as finely detailed. Large, round eyes attract attention, and the sea horse with its tail curled around a seaweed stem is particularly appealing. These pictures show well; this would be ideal to spark some interaction at storytime.

For toddlers and preschoolers, an inviting opportunity to swim into the underwater world. (Informational picture book. 2-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-77138-345-5

Page Count: 36

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: May 17, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
BIRDS FROM HEAD TO TAIL
by Stacey Roderick ; illustrated by Kwanchai Moriya

- BOOK REVIEW
BUGS FROM HEAD TO TAIL
by Stacey Roderick ; illustrated by Kwanchai Moriya

- BOOK REVIEW
DINOSAURS FROM HEAD TO TAIL
by Stacey Roderick ; illustrated by Kwanchai Moriya

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S HALLOWEEN

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.

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A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.

Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: July 5, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3

Page Count: 16

Publisher: HMH Books

Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK MAKES A FRIEND
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S VALENTINE
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

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LITTLE OWL'S NIGHT

by Divya Srinivasan & illustrated by Divya Srinivasan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2011

Little Owl loves the night forest. He can’t imagine a better place. He glides from friend to friend, watching and listening....

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A graceful bedtime story celebrates the beauty found in night.

Little Owl loves the night forest. He can’t imagine a better place. He glides from friend to friend, watching and listening. Hedgehog snuffles for mushrooms. Turtle hides in her shell as fireflies dot the sky. But try as he might, Little Owl cannot wake Bear inside the Grumbly Cave. He snores soundly. But what if the bear has never seen stars? As morning draws near, Little Owl settles in on his branch and whispers softly to his mother, “[T]ell me again how night ends.” “Spiderwebs turn to silver threads,” she begins. “The sky brightens from black to blue, blue to red, red to gold.” But Little Owl does not hear. His wide, innocent green eyes have already shut tight. Srinivasan’s picture-book debut beckons readers to follow this curiously adorable creature through the sky. The moon and stars illuminate the dark background, and a flat palette of black, greens and browns blankets the forest in quiet stillness. More lyrical than linear, the story flits from one animal to the next. But readers won’t mind.