Another worthy addition to the Yoga Tots board-book series.
Happy Tiger provides step-by-step instruction for an energizing yoga asana sequence. Brave Bear (published simultaneously) takes a toddler through a morning stretch. Each book demonstrates seven asanas, skipping poses that can be frustrating for toddlers or cause a quiet yoga practice to dissolve into laughter. Happy Tiger eliminates balancing twists; Brave Bear skips Tree and Chair postures. Instead, the books prescribe flowing movements tailored to the physical abilities of tykes. On the verso pages, the eponymous animal characters model the poses while the text encourages children to channel their inner tigers/bears. These imaginative play prompts are designed to hold small children’s attention, but some of them (“How does it feel to be such a fine cat?”) may interrupt the young yogi’s flow. On the recto pages, seven children representing a variety of ethnicities, body types, and skill levels move through the same postures as the animals, and simple sentences convey the instructions, including breathing cues and reminders to repeat movements on the opposite side of the body. Attention to breath is a strength of these simple guides, ensuring that even adults who are not practicing yogis can safely guide children in the movements. Meza’s bright, colorful digital illustrations will appeal to the target audience.
A good choice to safely teach yoga asanas to youngsters while promoting quiet, calm movement. (Board book. 2-5)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64686-492-8
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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. 25, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS
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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. 20, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2011
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY
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