An absurd but cute read that will have tots and parents alike giggling aloud.
The rear end gets its moment in the spotlight.
A baby's backside might be the silliest part of the body that's fit to print, and this board book has a good time basking in its glow. The book shows bums of all sorts—duck, pig, elephant, and monkey (really baboon)—before getting to the grand finale with baby. Each derrière is described with an adjective (the duck’s is “fluffy”; the baby’s is “cute”). The same brown-haired, white baby is also the star of the concurrently published There, There, a board book that explores each animal's sound: “ribbit,” “cluck,” and so on. At the midway point of There, There, the baby begins to cry, and the animals start crying too. Snapping out of it, the baby comforts the animals with the “magic words,” "There, there." Both books are illustrated with bold, simple shapes rendered in a clean, limited color palette. The narratives are also simply put forth, presenting silly words that parents can play with in all sorts of ways when reading aloud to their toddlers.
An absurd but cute read that will have tots and parents alike giggling aloud. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Feb. 9, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7636-8784-7
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character.
One of Boynton's signature characters celebrates Halloween.
It's Halloween time, and Pookie the pig is delighted. Mom helps the little porker pick out the perfect Halloween costume, a process that spans the entire board book. Using an abcb rhyme scheme, Boynton dresses Pookie in a series of cheerful costumes, including a dragon, a bunny, and even a caped superhero. Pookie eventually settles on the holiday classic, a ghost, by way of a bedsheet. Boynton sprinkles in amusing asides to her stanzas as Pookie offers costume commentary ("It's itchy"; "It's hot"; "I feel silly"). Little readers will enjoy the notion of transforming themselves with their own Halloween costumes while reading this book, and a few parents may get some ideas as well. Boynton's clean, sharp illustrations are as good as ever. This is Pookie's first holiday title, but readers will surely welcome more.
A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-553-51233-5
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Robin Corey/Random
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
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In this board book designed for the littlest llama lovers, adorable-as-ever Llama Llama (Llama Llama Red Pajama, 2005, etc.) gets ready for some Halloween fun.
Dewdney’s characteristic spare, apt rhymes convey a lot of action in effortlessly readable fashion. A charming and simple introduction to Halloween and its associated activities, this title finds little Llama Llama choosing and carving a pumpkin, pouring candy into bowls, picking out a costume and, finally, trick-or-treating. The costume Llama Llama decides to don—pointy teeth and a black mask and cape—is enough to frighten and fool his friends but not readers, who will immediately recognize and smile at the silly little mini-Dracula. With Dewdney’s characters as expressive as ever, young readers will be drawn right into the holiday fun, eagerly anticipating which costume Llama Llama will choose and excited to see him scare his friends and score some candy at trick-or-treat. In the equally appealing companion title, Llama Llama Jingle Bells,the little fellow gets ready for Christmas, baking and decorating some cookies in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. This simple holiday title will win Llama Llama new fans, and old friends will want to add it and its companion to their collections. (Board book. 1-2)
Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2014
ISBN: 978-0451469786
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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