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THE SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES

Name: THE SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES
Author: The Brothers Grimm

AN INTERACTIVE CHILDREN'S BOOK

by The Brothers Grimm & developed by TabTale ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 13, 2011

With the thumbnail page scroll and the ability to turn wooden text and narrative off, kids can easily navigate and enjoy...

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This classic tale of karma, retold in rigid rhyme and re-tooled with a different moral than the original, will enchant more with its activities than with its storytelling.

While there is passing mention of his generosity on the first page, the Grimms' humble shoemaker who shared his good fortune with those less fortunate is nowhere to be found here among the musical shoes and creaky shelves. This shoemaker sells his shoes "for a lot of cash" and says, "if I work hard...I will be rich"—even though it is clear that he's not the one who is making the shoes! Illustrated in warm hues, every page is rich with touch animation, and the real charm of this app lies in the variety of interactions it offers. Kids can toss around all the tools in the shoe shop, open doors and windows, light and extinguish candles and even clear away cobwebs. All of the characters, right down to the mice in the corner, move and play, sigh, snore and even dream. The musical-shoes keyboard is tuned to sound great no matter how it is played, and many pages have features that respond to tilting the iPad.

With the thumbnail page scroll and the ability to turn wooden text and narrative off, kids can easily navigate and enjoy what this app has to offer. (iPad storybook app. 4-7)

Pub Date: May 13, 2011

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: TabTale

Review Posted Online: June 12, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2011

- BOOK REVIEW
IN FAIRYLAND
by The Brothers Grimm ; illustrated by Hans Fischer ; translated by David Henry Wilson

- BOOK REVIEW
THE FROG PRINCE
by The Brothers Grimm ; illustrated by Sybille Schenker

- BOOK REVIEW
FAIRY TALES FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM
by The Brothers Grimm & Erik Forrest Jackson illustrated by Owen Richardson

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ADDIE ANT GOES ON AN ADVENTURE

by Maren Morris & Karina Argow ; illustrated by Kelly Anne Dalton ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2024

Young readers will be “antsy” to join the hero on her satisfying escapade.

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An ant explores her world.

Addie Ant’s ready for adventure. Despite some trepidation about leaving the Tomato Bed, where she lives with her aunt, she plucks up her courage and ventures forth across the garden to the far side of the shed. On her journey, she meets her pal Lewis Ladybug, who greets her warmly, points the way, and offers sage advice. When Addie arrives at her destination, she’s welcomed by lovely Beatrix Butterfly and enjoys an “ant-tastic” helping of watermelon. Beatrix also provides Addie with take-home treats and a map for the “Cricket Express,” which will take her straight home. Arriving at the terminal, Addie’s delighted to meet another friend, Cleo Cricket, whose carriage service returns Addie home in “two hops.” After eating a warm tomato soup dinner, Addie falls asleep and dreams of future exploits. Adorable though not terribly original, this story brims with sensuous pleasures, both textual and visual. Kids who declare that they dislike fruits or veggies may find their mouths watering at the mentions and sights of luscious tomatoes, peas, beans, watermelons, berries, and other foodstuffs; insect-averse readers may likewise think differently after encountering these convivial, wide-eyed characters. And those flowers and herbs everywhere! The highlights are the colors that burst from the pages. Addie’s an endearing, empowering character who reassures children they’ll be able to take those first independent steps successfully.

Young readers will be “antsy” to join the hero on her satisfying escapade. (author’s note about ants) (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 9, 2024

ISBN: 9781797228914

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)