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SLEEPY TOES

Name: SLEEPY TOES
Author: Kelli McNeil
ISBN: 978-1-338-03072-3

by Kelli McNeil ; illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 28, 2017

Slightly padded covers and board pages make this a sturdy, albeit optimistic, choice for establishing bedtime routines.

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A good-night tour of body parts for the mildly sleep-resistant.

McNeill’s text incorporates a simple mindfulness technique of first noticing, then consciously relaxing each body part to help energetic toddlers slow down enough to fall sleep. Seven perky tots recall their activity-filled days before toddling off to bed. The formula is simple. First there is a question: “Are your toes getting sleepy? Very very sleepy?” This is followed by a description of activities: “All day long they wiggle along—wiggly, wobbly toes.” The final stanza for each body part tells readers, “now it’s time to get some rest,” then reinforces that suggestion, ending with a rhyme. Accompanying illustrations show each pajama-clad child growing progressively quiet and relaxed. Doerrfeld’s palette is bright and cheery. Although the toddlers have different hair and skin tones, all have the same wide eyes and persistently sunny dispositions. They are evenly split, three coded male and three female, with the gender of one being unclear. Activities shown are not limited by gender roles. The only brown-skinned child, a girl, has two fuzzy pigtail puffs.

Slightly padded covers and board pages make this a sturdy, albeit optimistic, choice for establishing bedtime routines. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-338-03072-3

Page Count: 26

Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | 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

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

- BOOK REVIEW
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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LLAMA LLAMA SHAPES

From the Learning With Llama Llama series

developed by Anna Dewdney ; illustrated by JT Morrow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 7, 2023

An invitation for readers to learn through observation.

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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)