Although obviously fitting for twins, the story’s themes can easily apply to other siblings and friends as well.
Being twins isn’t all it’s quacked up to be for two duckling siblings.
Two ducklings hatching out of the same egg on the title page alert readers that the twins to come in this gentle story are identical. Wherever these ducklings, Lily and Olivia, go, they hear, “You two are just alike!” and happily acknowledge their similarities. Except they aren’t always alike. While Olivia enjoys jumping in the mud, quacking at bugs and racing about, Lily prefers making daisy chains, gazing at clouds and studying the world around her. Sometimes these pastimes don’t mix well, especially when a full-tilt Olivia destroys the flower Lily is holding. Suddenly they notice that they are not alike, “[n]ot one bit!” After they storm off in separate directions, Lily becomes lonely and discovers that Olivia has gotten stuck in a tree. As they help each other out of a mild predicament, things become just ducky again as they re-establish their bond and realize that they have both similarities and differences. In this picture book, the first that Weidner has both written and illustrated, watercolor-and–colored-pencil artwork in a soft palette shows the ducklings’ anger, fear and love in ways that young children can identify. Large-print text also helps emergent readers follow along.
Although obviously fitting for twins, the story’s themes can easily apply to other siblings and friends as well. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: May 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3159-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015
Fun format; bland text.
A hefty board book filled with ruminations on the nature of love.
While love is the topic of this board book, it’s the inventive gatefolds and charmingly vintage illustrations that readers will fall for. Brimming with sweeping declarations along the lines of “Love is / strong. // You have my back and I’ll always have yours,” the text sounds like a series of greeting cards strung together. It’s benign enough, but are most toddlers interested in generic proclamations about love? Some statements, like the ones on “unsinkable” hippos or a panda parent holding a cub “steady,” could introduce new vocabulary. At least there’s plenty of winsome critters to fawn over as the surprisingly sturdy flaps tell dramatic little ministories for each cartoon-style animal species. A downcast baby giraffe looks longingly up at a too-high tasty branch; lift a flap to bring an adult giraffe—and the delicacy—down to the baby, or watch an adventurous young fox retreat into a fold-down–flap burrow to learn that “my heart will always be home with you.” At points, the pages are tricky to turn in the correct order, but clever touches, like a series of folds that slow readers down to a sloth’s speed, make up for it. The book concludes with a gatefold revealing a vibrant playground populated with racially and ethnically diverse humans; two are wheelchair users.
Fun format; bland text. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4197-3153-2
Page Count: 84
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
Although a bit on the slight side, this offering is infused with a warm, light humor just right for cuddling up with a young...
This title previously published in the U.K. takes a cozy look at all kinds of kisses.
Walsh’s rhyming text is full of cutesy rhythms: “Kisses on noses, kisses on toes-es. Sudden kisses when you least supposes.” Sometimes the phrasing stumbles: “Who likes to kiss? I do! I do! Even the shy do. Why not try, too?” But toddlers and young preschoolers will probably not mind. They will be too engaged in spotting the lively penguin on each spread and too charmed by Abbot’s winsome illustrations that fittingly extend the wording in the story. Patient dogs queue up for a smooch from a frog prince, cool blue “ ’normous elephants” contrast strikingly with bright red “little tiny ants” and a bewildered monkey endures a smattering of lipstick kisses. Be the kiss small or tall, one to start or end the day, young readers are reminded that “the very best kiss… / is a kiss from you!” Perhaps no big surprise but comforting nonetheless.
Although a bit on the slight side, this offering is infused with a warm, light humor just right for cuddling up with a young tyke or sharing with a gathering for storytime. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Dec. 20, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2769-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Nov. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2011
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