This bit of wish-fulfillment is, frankly, as irresistible as a kitty’s belly.
A little girl asks for a kitten but is told, “Not today, Chloe.” Readers then discover what Chloe loves about kitties and how much she wants one, a wish that leads the single-minded toddler to see cats everywhere for the rest of the day.
Chloe herself seems inspired by the Hello Kitty aesthetic, with her black-dot eyes, red-line mouth and polka-dot hair bow. The cartoon drawings—just black outlines filled with matte colors—of supple, chubby felines capture the cats’ adorable qualities as they purr, exhibit their fluffy bellies and pink paws, and sniff with their “dainty little noses.” The text is simple but descriptive, just one or two lines per page, and appears in nice big type, inviting preschoolers to try reading for themselves. The sequence of imaginative kitty-sightings will hold appeal for both children and adults, not because the cats are difficult to spot but because the situations are comical: Chloe sees kitty in a beehive hairdo, a delicious mound of cotton candy and a cloud (a quirky homage to Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam). Naturally, when Chloe goes to sleep, she visits Kitty City. There is no tension and drama here, for in this feel-good episode, Chloe wakes to find the pet of her dreams outside her bedroom door.
This bit of wish-fulfillment is, frankly, as irresistible as a kitty’s belly. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-59643-862-0
Page Count: 42
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: April 23, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2013
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Sure to have little ones giggling.
Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”
Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.
Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781250814388
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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