A lively and lovely update
Ducks cavort in this spirited board-book adaptation of Grahame’s famous poem from The Wind in the Willows.
“Ducks are a-dabbling, / Up tails all!” In the poem, ducks are described joyously feeding in their pond, and this cheery rendition preserves the spirit and the best read-aloud elements of the original. Both the strong rhythm and animated descriptors remain, but a few lines get a makeover to simplify the language for a U.S. audience. Where the original reads, “Slushy green undergrowth / Where the roaches swim,” this edition scraps the almost-certain-to-confuse “roaches” in favor of “where the fishies swim.” Some other uncommon words, such as “larder” and “swifts,” are also changed, and their replacements feel quite natural within the original cadence. The poem’s musicality makes it an excellent choice to share with large groups, as does the sturdy, oversized trim. Playful illustrations in inviting shades of aqua, green, and tan make the poem additionally accessible, with sprawling double-page spreads that look like a marshy wonderland with dragonflies flitting, ducklings waddling, and pink-cheeked frogs hopping. Some of the lively digital illustrations present deeply layered underwater scenes, with close-ups of ducks diving amid bubbles, sparkling white highlights, and shadowy fishes, while equally attractive minimalist land scenes allow the richly colored birds to strut and shine, especially those hunter-green mallard drakes.
A lively and lovely update . (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: March 13, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-486713-86-8
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Flowerpot Press
Review Posted Online: May 22, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come.
Little Blue Truck and his pal Toad meet friends old and new on a springtime drive through the country.
This lift-the-flap, interactive entry in the popular Little Blue Truck series lacks the narrative strength and valuable life lessons of the original Little Blue Truck (2008) and its sequel, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (2009). Both of those books, published for preschoolers rather than toddlers, featured rich storylines, dramatic, kinetic illustrations, and simple but valuable life lessons—the folly of taking oneself too seriously, the importance of friends, and the virtue of taking turns, for example. At about half the length and with half as much text as the aforementioned titles, this volume is a much quicker read. Less a story than a vernal celebration, the book depicts a bucolic drive through farmland and encounters with various animals and their young along the way. Beautifully rendered two-page tableaux teem with butterflies, blossoms, and vibrant pastel, springtime colors. Little Blue greets a sheep standing in the door of a barn: “Yoo-hoo, Sheep! / Beep-beep! / What’s new?” Folding back the durable, card-stock flap reveals the barn’s interior and an adorable set of twin lambs. Encounters with a duck and nine ducklings, a cow with a calf, a pig with 10 (!) piglets, a family of bunnies, and a chicken with a freshly hatched chick provide ample opportunity for counting and vocabulary work.
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-544-93809-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character.
Pookie celebrates Easter with a play date and holiday activities.
Pookie’s friend Bean, a gray puppy, comes over for Easter fun that includes lots of bouncing around and egg decorating. After Bean goes home, Pookie gets excited about the Easter Bunny’s arrival and goes to sleep dreaming of a large chocolate egg. Like the other Pookie books before it, this one is told in rhyme from the perspective of a loving grown-up addressing the little pig, which keeps the pace moving and makes for a great read-aloud. Bean and Pookie are realistically—and endearingly—childlike, from Pookie’s pronunciation of yellow as “lellow!” to the joyful mess they make while decorating eggs. There are plenty of sweet and festive touches, such as the bunny ears that Bean and Pookie (and Pookie’s teddy) wear and the daffodils painted on the end of Pookie’s bed. The illustrations include large, full-page images as well as smaller vignettes against solid backgrounds. One page shows Pookie and parent looking out the window at the moon, anticipating Easter’s spoils. For fans of Boynton and little Pookie, this Easter tale is exactly as expected: a touch of playfulness, a relatable story, and comfort in the familiar. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-66592-838-0
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Boynton Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
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