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GREEN EGGS & HAM

Name: GREEN EGGS & HAM
Author: Dr. Seuss

by Dr. Seuss ; illustrated by Dr. Seuss ; developed by Oceanhouse Media ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

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Some stories never grow old. Sam-I-am relentlessly pursues a picky eater who won’t go near the titular entree, even when garnished with the company of a goat or a ride on a boat. That is, until Sam’s new friend tries the dish and decides to eat them anywhere, such as in a car or in a tree: “They are so good, so good, you see!” One of about 20 Dr. Seuss apps, this one seems particularly suited to the format, allowing young readers to touch any object—from sky to trees to green eggs—and have the word spoken and gently float across the screen as text. As pages are flipped, the view zooms out to reveal full-page illustrations, giving the story a consistent sense of motion. The narration (paced ideally for emergent readers) and tap-to-speak words are playfully read and are optional, as are sound effects (such as a mouse’s squeak), so those accustomed to a jaunty clip can read it aloud at their preferred tempo. While navigation is wisely kept out of the way outside of the main menu, the only way to restart the book or access any options in Auto Play mode is, regrettably, to quit the app entirely using the iPad’s Home button. (iPad storybook app. 2-8)

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: N/A

Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2010

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LITTLE RED SLEIGH

by Erin Guendelsberger ; illustrated by Elizaveta Tretyakova ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2020

Sadly, the storytelling runs aground.

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A little red sleigh has big Christmas dreams.

Although the detailed, full-color art doesn’t anthropomorphize the protagonist (which readers will likely identify as a sled and not a sleigh), a close third-person text affords the object thoughts and feelings while assigning feminine pronouns. “She longed to become Santa’s big red sleigh,” reads an early line establishing the sleigh’s motivation to leave her Christmas-shop home for the North Pole. Other toys discourage her, but she perseveres despite creeping self-doubt. A train and truck help the sleigh along, and when she wishes she were big, fast, and powerful like them, they offer encouragement and counsel patience. When a storm descends after the sleigh strikes out on her own, an unnamed girl playing in the snow brings her to a group of children who all take turns riding the sleigh down a hill. When the girl brings her home, the sleigh is crestfallen she didn’t reach the North Pole. A convoluted happily-ever-after ending shows a note from Santa that thanks the sleigh for giving children joy and invites her to the North Pole next year. “At last she understood what she was meant to do. She would build her life up spreading joy, one child at a time.” Will she leave the girl’s house to be gifted to other children? Will she stay and somehow also reach ever more children? Readers will be left wondering. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 31.8% of actual size.)

Sadly, the storytelling runs aground. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-72822-355-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland

Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

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LITTLE ORANGE PUMPKIN
by Erin Guendelsberger ; illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin

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LITTLE PURPLE TRACTOR
by Erin Guendelsberger ; illustrated by Annelouise Mahoney

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LITTLE YELLOW BUS
by Erin Guendelsberger ; illustrated by Suzie Mason

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S CHRISTMAS

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 23, 2014

Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own...

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The sturdy Little Blue Truck is back for his third adventure, this time delivering Christmas trees to his band of animal pals.

The truck is decked out for the season with a Christmas wreath that suggests a nose between headlights acting as eyeballs. Little Blue loads up with trees at Toad’s Trees, where five trees are marked with numbered tags. These five trees are counted and arithmetically manipulated in various ways throughout the rhyming story as they are dropped off one by one to Little Blue’s friends. The final tree is reserved for the truck’s own use at his garage home, where he is welcomed back by the tree salestoad in a neatly circular fashion. The last tree is already decorated, and Little Blue gets a surprise along with readers, as tiny lights embedded in the illustrations sparkle for a few seconds when the last page is turned. Though it’s a gimmick, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it fits with the retro atmosphere of the snowy country scenes. The short, rhyming text is accented with colored highlights, red for the animal sounds and bright green for the numerical words in the Christmas-tree countdown.

Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own tree that will put a twinkle in a toddler’s eyes. (Picture book. 2-5)