A candidate for No. 2 on the list for scatological storytimes.
This farm is really full of…poo.
“Down on the farm there’s a terrible smell. / (The cow is pooping and the sheep as well!)” Farmer Jill, a woman of color with dark, curly hair, doesn’t mind; it’s “good for the land!” Rooster, however, wishes he could soar above all the stink on the ground—but he can’t fly. When Farmer Jill returns from town with straightened hair and someone poops on her new hairdo, the “cock-a-doodle-dooooo” that preceded it leads everyone to suspect Rooster. But Hen points out that he can’t fly. After showering, Farmer Jill finds her underpants have been stolen from the clothesline. Rooster feels guilty, as he’d made a catapult with the stolen panties in order to “fly,” and it was he who’d accidentally doodied on Jill. To himself he vows only to “fly” at night in case of future incontinence. When Fox raids the henhouse, Rooster uses his superpooper to unleash a cloaca-clearing cannonade of cock-a-doodle-poo on Fox’s head. The whole farm cheers his poopy performance. Smallman’s rhyming tale of mystery and derring-poo will definitely elicit giggles (and offend a few), but some extra words knock the meter off kilter in several places, and Rooster never faces the music for his odoriferous misdeeds. The colorful, cartoon illustrations of expressive animals are a plus, however.
A candidate for No. 2 on the list for scatological storytimes. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68010-080-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Dec. 10, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A terrific choice for the preschool crowd.
Little Blue Truck learns that he can be as important as the big yellow school bus.
Little Blue Truck is driving along the country road early one morning when he and driver friend Toad come across a big, yellow, shiny school bus. The school bus is friendly, and so are her animal passengers, but when Little Blue Truck wishes aloud he could do an important job like hers, the school bus says only a bus of her size and features can do this job. Little Blue Truck continues along, a bit envious, and finds Piggy crying by the side of the road, having missed the bus. Little Blue tells Piggy to climb in and takes a creative path to the school—one the bus couldn’t navigate—and with an adventurous spirit, gets Piggy there right on time. The simple, rhyming text opens the story with a sweet, fresh, old-fashioned tone and continues with effortlessly rhythmical lines throughout. Little Blue is a brave, helpful, and hopeful character young readers will root for. Adults will feel a rush of nostalgia and delight in sharing this story with children as the animated vehicles and animals in innocent, colorful countryside scenes evoke wholesome character traits and values of growth, grit, and self-acceptance. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A terrific choice for the preschool crowd. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: June 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-358-41224-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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