Sparkly-covered and visually appealing, this one would work well in both a winter-themed storytime and a warm lap.
Sing along to a perennial favorite wintertime tune celebrating a magical snowman.
The lyrics to “Frosty the Snowman” form the text here, and the illustrations depict what is happening in each verse. A group of multiethnic children, decked out in colorful winter gear, discovers the snowman. At this point, he sports a shapeless blob of snow for a body, arms stuck to his sides, a round head with facial features and a pipe, and a red-and-white striped scarf wound round his chunky neck. Once the children place a black top hat on his head, he springs to life, dancing around wielding a broom, throwing snowballs at the children, and playing follow-the-leader before boogying his way out of town. The colorful, dynamic and mostly cheery pictures (except for the one showing the children crying as Frosty departs) adequately illustrate the song lyrics; Williams’ addition of a family of cute bunnies joining in all the happenings, from discovering Frosty to witnessing his leave-taking, lends an extra bit of fun to the scenes.
Sparkly-covered and visually appealing, this one would work well in both a winter-themed storytime and a warm lap. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-545-45005-8
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
A joyful celebration.
Families in a variety of configurations play, dance, and celebrate together.
The rhymed verse, based on a song from the Noodle Loaf children’s podcast, declares that “Families belong / Together like a puzzle / Different-sized people / One big snuggle.” The accompanying image shows an interracial couple of caregivers (one with brown skin and one pale) cuddling with a pajama-clad toddler with light brown skin and surrounded by two cats and a dog. Subsequent pages show a wide array of families with members of many different racial presentations engaging in bike and bus rides, indoor dance parties, and more. In some, readers see only one caregiver: a father or a grandparent, perhaps. One same-sex couple with two children in tow are expecting another child. Smart’s illustrations are playful and expressive, curating the most joyful moments of family life. The verse, punctuated by the word together, frequently set in oversized font, is gently inclusive at its best but may trip up readers with its irregular rhythms. The song that inspired the book can be found on the Noodle Loaf website.
A joyful celebration. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-22276-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Nov. 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2020
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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