MOM LOVES LITTLE JUMBO

Name: MOM LOVES LITTLE JUMBO
Author: Yasushi Muraki
ISBN: 978-988-8341-78-8

by Yasushi Muraki ; illustrated by Yasushi Muraki ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

A touching final page of baby elephant looking adoringly up to Mom confirms it: This is a perfect read for Mother’s Day or...

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Elephant calf Jumbo details all the ways Mom lovingly cares for her child.

Set primarily on tan-colored backgrounds so deeply textured as to look fibery, collage-style elephants constructed from expansive, beautifully curved shapes dominate each page. From the first moment, readers perceive that while Jumbo might be small, solid and stable Mom elephant will emotionally (and literally!) shelter her baby from any storm. As some pages open on some dramatic scenes in which the small elephant stumbles off a cliff or is menaced by lions, the determined eye contact between mother and baby or the furiously red, larger-than-life mother blockading her child from danger are eminently reassuring. After the introductory action, the narrative transitions to a less-tumultuous day, with the pair playing, snacking, and snuggling, leading to a somnolent bedtime scene. Mom’s skin subtly and helpfully changes color to hint at the mood, whether she’s playfully purple or restfully green-tinged while finding food. Narrating through a series of frank observations and sentiments about Mom, Jumbo achieves that just-right tone: “Mom plays with me. She makes me laugh.” Toddlers will also relate to the simple gesture of reciprocity when Jumbo picks a flower for Mom—what small child, elephantine or not, doesn’t enjoy gifting a dandelion?

A touching final page of baby elephant looking adoringly up to Mom confirms it: This is a perfect read for Mother’s Day or any day. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-988-8341-78-8

Page Count: 22

Publisher: minedition

Review Posted Online: March 2, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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SMILE, POUT-POUT FISH

by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2014

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.

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This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.

Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE MADE 32 MISTAKES
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

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THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE AND THE CLASSROOM JITTERS
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
POUT-POUT FISH
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

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MERRY CHRISTMAS, LITTLE POOKIE

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 18, 2018

The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer...

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Seven years after Little Pookie (2011) first appeared, this popular piglet is finally celebrating Christmas.

“Oh Pookie! Come look! It’s beginning to snow,” says a maternal-looking pig. But where did Pookie go? Past the Christmas tree, to put on a snowsuit of course. Pookie’s ever cheerful mama is willing to go out too. After all, “It’s a magical time to be walking with you.” When she observes, “Our noses are frozen. It’s time to go in,” Pookie protests in typical toddler style: “But I’m not c-c-c-cold!” The next three pages highlight indoor holiday preparations—making paper garlands, baking and decorating cookies. The rhyming text mirrors the spare illustrations. A spidery type that emulates handwriting makes it clear when Pookie is speaking. Then “the doorbell is ringing. / Our family and friends have arrived for the singing.” The second-to-last spread shows Pookie, mama, and six other pigs—and Boynton’s requisite chicken—singing (“Con brio”), “MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! AND A HAP-PY NEW YEAR!” Conveniently, this text is placed beneath the musical notation. Finally Pookie hangs a stocking and goes off to bed without any fuss, anticipating presents on Christmas morning.

The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer or an ideal Christmas Eve read to share with other little piggies. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)