A raucous if slightly opaque addition to storytime.
This board book introduces an odd mix of caution and mayhem.
The cover proclaims “10 BIG and SCARY FLAPS,” but there are actually 11, counting the half-page cover, which hides a witch chasing a wolf, who is scaring a ghost. On the final spread the wolf returns to be scared by a “Boo!” from young readers. In large font, the text invites children to tickle an ogre, knock a witch off her broom, startle an ostrich, etc. Predicting each cartoon creature’s response is part of the fun. Will they be happy when the flap is opened? Usually they are scared, not scary. Some adults may balk at suggestions like “Stick your tongue out at the dragon” or “the lion is sleeping. Now’s a good time to poke him.” In both cases the behavior elicits an angry reception, so youngsters may understand that this was not particularly good advice to follow. The interaction with a seemingly friendly crab is less clear. When that flap is lifted, the crab threatens to pinch. Is the lesson to not trust strangers? Or just to avoid crabs? The reactions are clear in the bright, uncluttered illustrations behind large, easily manipulated flaps. However, the black type is difficult to read when set on the occasional dark, low-contrast background.
A raucous if slightly opaque addition to storytime. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-2-40801-281-6
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Twirl/Chronicle
Review Posted Online: Aug. 25, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.
This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.
Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Clear nonfiction for the very young is hard to come by, and it appears that the Look & Learn series may finally be on...
An exploration of the human body through colorful photos.
Every other double-page spread labels the individual parts on one major area: head, torso, back, arm and leg. Ethnically diverse boy-girl pairs serve as models as arrows point to specific features and captions float nearby. While the book usefully mentions rarely depicted body parts, such as eyebrow, armpit and shin, some of the directional arrows are unclear. The arrow pointing at a girl’s shoulder hits her in the upper arm, and the belly button is hard is distinguish from the stomach (both are concealed by shirts). Facts about the human body (“Guess what? You have tiny hairs in your nose that keep out dirt”) appear on alternating spreads along with photos of kids in action. Baby Animals, another title in the Look & Learn series, uses an identical format to introduce readers to seal pups, leopard cubs, elephant calves, ducklings and tadpoles. In both titles, the final spread offers a review of the information and encourages readers to match baby animals to their parents or find body parts on a photo of kids jumping on a trampoline.
Clear nonfiction for the very young is hard to come by, and it appears that the Look & Learn series may finally be on the right track despite earlier titles that were much too conceptual for the audience. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4263-1483-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: National Geographic
Review Posted Online: April 29, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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