This appealingly illustrated, confidence-boosting board book will inspire little ones to think of—and perhaps catalog...
Krensky offers an unassuming celebration of a child’s burgeoning knowledge about the big, wide world she lives in.
In easy, rhyming verse, with only one short phrase per page, a youngster proclaims the many things she knows. For instance: “I know rocks are heavy, / and flowers are light. // I know bright means day, / and dark means night.” The narrator is an African-American preschooler with big eyes, braids and a sure smile. She is depicted tossing rocks into a river and flowers into the air, riding in a car, bouncing a ball, flying a kite, painting, brushing her teeth and playing the piano, often flanked by a group of ethnically diverse children and occasionally accompanied by her father. The first-person narration coupled with the familiar scenarios presented here will make it easy for children to relate. The charming illustrations, featuring round-eyed, rosy-cheeked youngsters frolicking about, have a vintage quality and are dominated by oranges, yellows and blues.
This appealingly illustrated, confidence-boosting board book will inspire little ones to think of—and perhaps catalog aloud—all of the important things they already know about their world. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: July 2, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0938-8
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Review Posted Online: June 11, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013
Despite the brevity of the text, the humor embedded in the illustrations will engage even adults, who will doubtless be...
Find a baby and play together with this board book geared to the attention spans of very young children.
Simple uncluttered layouts provide focus. Both this title and the co-published I Get Dressed use animal characters and vocabulary introduced in McPhail's My Mother Goose (2013), making them rare successful board-book adaptations of previously published picture books. As the title suggests, I Get Dressed names items of clothing while this offering reinforces action verbs. McPhail's bear walks with purpose, jumps for joy, and finally is quietly engrossed in reading. With just one word per page, even the youngest children will soon follow suit. Although the animals in I Get Dressed are just as whimsical, it is somewhat less satisfying, perhaps because different animals are used on each page, and the vocabulary concepts are more difficult. Even the animals look bemused to find themselves wearing clothes. The praying mantis wearing gloves is a delightful surprise, however. No one would trust the sly snake wearing that salesman's tie or, for that matter, a fox wearing a dress. McPhail knows and respects children. He manages to draw anthropomorphic animals without making them nauseatingly cute.
Despite the brevity of the text, the humor embedded in the illustrations will engage even adults, who will doubtless be asked to “read it again.” (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: July 28, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-62672-147-0
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
A pleasing addition to the toddler word-book collection.
This sweet board book introduces readers to Bobby, an anthropomorphized little animal, and his toddler world.
In this book translated from French, printed cloth tabs break up Bobby’s day into sections that present everyday words from breakfast to bedtime. The illustrations have a retro feeling and, aside from Bobby and his parents (who look like some kind of tailless rodent), present objects, other animals, and feelings in a clearly identifiable, colorful, and uncluttered way. From a spoon and plate through the important people in his life such as Mommy, Daddy, Doggy, and friends (an elephant, a fox, and a rabbit) to activities, feelings, and the weather—indeed, right down to the goodnight kiss—readers can relate to Bobby’s world. The book can be read on different levels depending on age and verbal stage. Younger children and their adult readers can concentrate on the simple words printed in large type, such as: “messy,” “clean,” and “bubbles.” Older ones ready for “plot” and a more dialogic interaction can read further: “Bobby took a bath. He is clean! Do you like to take a bath?” It is an easy way to engage early talkers in conversation and help them develop their narrative skills.
A pleasing addition to the toddler word-book collection. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: April 1, 2016
ISBN: 979-1-0276-0138-7
Page Count: 42
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
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