This joyful lift-the-flap adventure will inspire little ones to head outdoors to see if spring has sprung in their neck of...
Broach rounds out her celebration of the seasons (Seashore Baby, 2010; Snowflake Baby, 2011; Barnyard Baby, 2013) with this cheerful ode to the wonders of spring.
This time, the winsome toddler, still accompanied only by her little brown puppy, puts on her rain boots and eagerly heads out the door into the drizzly spring day. She makes mud pies, plays in puddles and discovers some wildlife: ducklings in the meadow, baby birds in the rose bushes and bumblebees in the flower beds. When she finally heads back inside, it’s to take a much-needed bath and drift off to sleep with her pup snuggled in beside her. The right-hand pages feature strategically placed flaps that reveal a key part of each pastel-steeped scene. The tiny adventurer is as adorable as ever, but the spare verse is not quite as nimble and elegant here as in the other titles—take, for example, “Mud pie baby / Messy hand // Puddle baby / Stomp and stand.” Nonetheless, fans of the previous volumes will certainly want this one to complete the set.
This joyful lift-the-flap adventure will inspire little ones to head outdoors to see if spring has sprung in their neck of the woods. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: March 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-316-23526-6
Page Count: 14
Publisher: LB Kids/Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An invitation for readers to learn through observation.
Llama Llama and Mama spot different shapes at the farmers market.
Dewdney’s iconic llama stars in this board book, a part of the Learning With Llama Llama series. The story showcases five shapes: rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, and stars. Rather than simply showing the shapes and naming them, illustrator Morrow embeds them inside scenes from the farmers market. Each page turn uncovers a different shape. Signage and a shopping bag pop as rectangles, while umbrellas, a slice of watermelon, and the peaks of the tents form triangles. Shapes that appeared on previous pages are visible even as the story progresses, and the final page helps readers revisit and recall shapes they’ve already found. There are plenty of engaging details to keep readers looking, including other animal shoppers, kite-flying, and sudden, surprising rain. The text is concise, and each spread features a simple question inviting participation. This title is more captivating than other shape concept books, especially those that show block-colored shapes without context. Llama Llama’s popularity will make this a hit with fans, and readers looking for substance will find it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An invitation for readers to learn through observation. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-46509-7
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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