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BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON

Name: BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
Author: Stephanie Shaw
ISBN: 978-1-58925-221-9

by Stephanie Shaw ; illustrated by Rebecca Harry ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2016

A winsome addition to the bedtime-storybook stack.

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A little fawn is coaxed into bed.

The moon has risen over the forest, and the woodland creatures are preparing for bed. But Little Deer doesn't want to go to bed. Mother and child walk through the woods, the mother pointing out that skunks, squirrels, beavers, and foxes all go to sleep, and the fawn should too. “Do skunks go to bed when told by their mamas?” asks Little Deer. Mother responds, “Yes, without fussing—in stripy pajamas.” The animals are lightly anthropomorphized, smiling sweetly into one another’s eyes on every page. The rhyming couplets and warm blue- and green-toned illustrations go a long way to lulling little readers to rest, making this a particularly effective bedtime book. The illustrations also employ a painterly quality and soft focus that enhance the book’s soporific quality. The narrative is deliberately paced to indulge little yawns and eye rubs between page turns.

A winsome addition to the bedtime-storybook stack. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: March 1, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-58925-221-9

Page Count: 22

Publisher: Tiger Tales

Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
SYLVIA FINDS A WAY
by Stephanie Shaw ; illustrated by Fiona Lee

- BOOK REVIEW
LULLABY FARM
by Stephanie Shaw ; illustrated by Rebecca Harry

- BOOK REVIEW
SCHNITZEL
by Stephanie Shaw ; illustrated by Kevin M. Barry

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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)