A decent, durable first Halloween book.
Halloween gets the touchy-feely treatment in this simple, textured introduction to the holiday.
Stock photos, elementary artwork, glitter, fur, foil, and unrhymed text give baby an uncomplicated introduction to some familiar sights of late October. What this book lacks in artistic inspiration it may make up in practical utility; it’s meant to be touched, and it’s built to withstand rough handling. The cover photo, a jack-o’-lantern, is soft and squishy, and the pages are stiff and sturdy—easily turned but tough to tear, crease, or remove. Images are Halloween-themed but not frightening. A cute, black kitten peers over a carved pumpkin with a friendly grin that invites young fingers to trace its features: “Peekaboo! It’s Halloween.” On the next page, “Kitty says, ‘Meow!’ ” and children can touch its soft fur. A two-page spread features a toy witch stirring a cauldron of potion and then a close-up of her sticky, green brew. The potion’s tacky texture is an interesting tactile experience, but the wisdom of encouraging children to touch the side of the witch’s cooking vessel on the preceding page seems questionable. The toy witch and wizard look white, but two real-life trick-or-treaters (a wizard and a witch) are children of color. Bats, the moon, candy, a treat bucket, an owl, and the kitten in a witch’s hat also appear.
A decent, durable first Halloween book. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4654-6235-0
Page Count: 14
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: Sept. 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018
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)
Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2014
ISBN: 978-0451469786
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015
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The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer...
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)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-3724-1
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
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