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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LLAMA LLAMA TRICK OR TREAT

From the Llama Llama series

by Anna Dewdney ; illustrated by Anna Dewdney ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 19, 2014

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In this board book designed for the littlest llama lovers, adorable-as-ever Llama Llama (Llama Llama Red Pajama, 2005, etc.) gets ready for some Halloween fun.

Dewdney’s characteristic spare, apt rhymes convey a lot of action in effortlessly readable fashion. A charming and simple introduction to Halloween and its associated activities, this title finds little Llama Llama choosing and carving a pumpkin, pouring candy into bowls, picking out a costume and, finally, trick-or-treating. The costume Llama Llama decides to don—pointy teeth and a black mask and cape—is enough to frighten and fool his friends but not readers, who will immediately recognize and smile at the silly little mini-Dracula. With Dewdney’s characters as expressive as ever, young readers will be drawn right into the holiday fun, eagerly anticipating which costume Llama Llama will choose and excited to see him scare his friends and score some candy at trick-or-treat. In the equally appealing companion title, Llama Llama Jingle Bells,the little fellow gets ready for Christmas, baking and decorating some cookies in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. This simple holiday title will win Llama Llama new fans, and old friends will want to add it and its companion to their collections. (Board book. 1-2)