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FIVE LITTLE PUPPIES JUMPING ON THE BED

Name: FIVE LITTLE PUPPIES JUMPING ON THE BED
Author: Lily Karr
ISBN: 978-0-545-38252-6

by Lily Karr & illustrated by Aaron Zenz ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2012

With its rushed conclusion, there's not enough bounce to lift this rhyme out of the ordinary.

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Monkeys shouldn't get all the fun, should they?

Despite repeated reprimands, little pups continue to jump on the bed in this slight twist on a well-known storyline. “Five little puppies jumping on the bed, / One fell off and bumped his head.” Though never in view on the page, the dogs' mama calls the doctor as each baby tumbles off the furniture, only to hear the familiar rebuke. The pattern is broken at the end, when the resolution sends the final animal in search of his missing canine companions. The doctor changes his professional opinion and offers an acceptable and timely though didactic alternative: “Let those puppies play outside!” (This is all accomplished in one four-line stanza.) Textured elements, from the rubbery wetness of a puppy's black nose to the cotton-candy–pink tufts of a poodle's hair add opportunities for interaction. There's a soft physicality in the puppies’ daring gymnastic feats; their playthings provide a reminder of their games.

With its rushed conclusion, there's not enough bounce to lift this rhyme out of the ordinary. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: March 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-545-38252-6

Page Count: 10

Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: May 29, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
MY PUMPKIN
by Lily Karr ; illustrated by Doreen M. Marts

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SPOOKY POOKIE

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 7, 2015

A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character.

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One of Boynton's signature characters celebrates Halloween.

It's Halloween time, and Pookie the pig is delighted. Mom helps the little porker pick out the perfect Halloween costume, a process that spans the entire board book. Using an abcb rhyme scheme, Boynton dresses Pookie in a series of cheerful costumes, including a dragon, a bunny, and even a caped superhero. Pookie eventually settles on the holiday classic, a ghost, by way of a bedsheet. Boynton sprinkles in amusing asides to her stanzas as Pookie offers costume commentary ("It's itchy"; "It's hot"; "I feel silly"). Little readers will enjoy the notion of transforming themselves with their own Halloween costumes while reading this book, and a few parents may get some ideas as well. Boynton's clean, sharp illustrations are as good as ever. This is Pookie's first holiday title, but readers will surely welcome more.

A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: July 7, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-553-51233-5

Page Count: 18

Publisher: Robin Corey/Random

Review Posted Online: July 26, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
HIPPOS REMAIN CALM
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

- BOOK REVIEW
WOO HOO! YOU'RE DOING GREAT!
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

- BOOK REVIEW
HAPPY EASTER, LITTLE POOKIE
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

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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)