In the time-ago village of Corgiville, "west of New Hampshire and east of Vermont," the population of cats, rabbits, corgis ("enchanted" small dogs the color of foxes), and boggarts (toy-like "trolls") turn out for the annual country fair. The plan of young Caleb Brown, a corgi, to ride his goat Josephine in the Grand Race, is almost foiled by rival Edgar Tomcat who feeds Caleb a soporific hot dog and stuffs Josephine with mince pies and cigars. But Caleb's resourceful buddy Merton Boggart gets the groaning Josephine going by feeding her the rockets for his fireworks display. "The results were spectacular!" Caleb wins the race, leads the grand parade, starts off the Virginia Reel with Miss Corgiville ("much to his embarrassment and pleasure"), and applauds Merton's closing fireworks display. It's the kind of village that you enter through a covered bridge and the kind of story where everyone wins prizes and no apologies are offered or expected for gratuitous whimsy. (Why are the corgi described as enchanted? What are the ball-and-stick-constructed boggarts doing in a place like this?) Mrs. Tudor's pictures are of course executed in quaint and loving detail.
Pub Date: Oct. 18, 1971
ISBN: 0316853127
Page Count: 48
Publisher: T.Y. Crowell
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1971
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
<p>Perfectly fine but nothing new.</p>
Caregiver-child love abounds in this rhyming board book full of animal puns.
One thing’s for certain, there’s plenty of sweet (and groanworthy) sentiments in this book. Rossner writes, “Giving HOGS and kisses / sends me to the moon!” and, “I’m such a lucky DUCK. / You really QUACK me up!” The book progresses entirely in this fashion, with a new animal pair and pun with each page turn. It reads well as a book for a caregiver to share with a lap-sitting child. On that mark, it succeeds in providing plenty of opportunities for giggles and snuggles. That said, at times the meter is forced, making the cadence a bit stilted, and the cuddles/bubbles rhyme is a dubious one. This is an issue for a book that will almost solely be read aloud. Gibson’s illustrations are very charming; the animals and insects with big eyes and expressive faces have high appeal. The warmth of the animals’ embraces and cuddles translates well from the page, inviting the same snuggles from readers. Decorated eggs appear on each page, and the bunny pair from the cover features prominently. Overall, the concept and message of the book are high interest and age-appropriate, but it doesn’t stand out from the very crowded shelf of “I love you, little one!” books similar to it.
<p>Perfectly fine but nothing new.</p> (Board book. 6 mos.-2)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-7282-2343-8
Page Count: 25
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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