A story that, once read, readers may forgetolotl.
A community of anthropomorphized axolotls play and work during the course of a day.
Alarm clocks go off, and in their underwater home, axolotls of various types begin their days. On each double-spread page, rhyming couplets and spot art (with some full-bleed spreads scattered in between) work together to capture the daily—and very humanlike—activities of the aquatic salamanders, all of whom have portmanteau names. Flexolotl begins the day by lifting weights; Paxolotl packs a school bag with books; Zodiaxolotl consults a horoscope chart, and so on. But life is not all drudge and routine in their watery realm. We see Tuxolotl, “dressed up to the gills” in a tuxedo for a fancy occasion, and DJ Maxxolotl spinning music tables in a club, while other axolotls are “packing out the concert halls / with salamander song.” At day’s end, Soaxolotl takes a bath, Booxolotl reads, and, finally, the entire community settles in “to catch some ZZZs.” The book’s title could mislead readers who expect an abecedarian narrative. Some of the portmanteaus may confuse children: “Spandexolotl” exercises, but young readers may not make the spandex-workout connection, and Waxolotl waxes its legs, a practice that many children will be unfamiliar with. The goofy, over-the-top artwork rendered in an obtrusively bright palette and the dull, overly singsong rhymes leave little to readers’ imaginations.
A story that, once read, readers may forgetolotl. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64170-644-5
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Familius
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
As a counting book, fun. As a new Sendak book, by its mere existence, notable.
A posthumously published tale of overly prolific bunnies from a master of the picture-book form.
A young magician bows before readers and releases a rabbit from his hat. More and more rabbits appear. As the book counts from one rabbit to 10, the boy becomes increasingly frustrated with the sheer number of bunnies appearing from his headwear. His irritation is alleviated only when the narrator declares, “So then—he made them vanish again!” Now the numbers count down, and with every rabbit gone the child grows distinctly happier and more lighthearted. Originally created in 1970 as a pamphlet for a fundraiser for Philadelphia’s Rosenbach Museum, this book is visually similar to such Sendak crowd-pleasers as the Nutshell Library titles, particularly One Was Johnny (1962). Adult fans seeking the darker and weightier subject matter associated with the author’s later works would do best to look elsewhere. Children, however, will be drawn to the escalating tide of fuzzy bunnies and will share the protagonist’s sense of satisfaction at watching them go. The artwork is filled with simple charm, and the counting element proves to be a nice plus as well. The protagonist has skin the white of the page.
As a counting book, fun. As a new Sendak book, by its mere existence, notable. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9780062644671
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
Children will appreciate this preschool tour and be eager to revisit.
What fun: Exploring a preschool classroom without even being there!
Each spread in this adorable board book contains an embedded groove that gives listeners the opportunity to move a character around a different brightly colored, inviting area of the school. Thus, kids will play while enjoying this book, and they’ll also learn about a preschool environment before they’re actual students themselves. By moving figures around the varied spaces in this school, where the students and teacher are friendly, welcoming, gaily dressed animal characters, children will enjoy a light adventure, gain a safe sense of autonomy, and learn in advance what they will see and do when they join the preschool set officially. The whole joyful experience is described in jaunty, lively rhymes, while the sweet, appealing illustrations, created digitally with markers, collage, and watercolors, depict lively scenes of young animals engaging harmoniously in typical preschool activities. There are cubbies for hanging up outdoor clothing, a tank with two turtles, instruments to play and songs to sing, arts and crafts activities, books to read and storytime, movement games, toys and a kitchen corner to share—and, best of all, new friends to meet and play with. Preschool’s great—and students can return for more fun tomorrow! (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Children will appreciate this preschool tour and be eager to revisit. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 11, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-79721-084-1
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2023
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