An excellent bedtime storybook.
Little animals bed down for the night.
The sun has set, the stars are out, and the moon has risen. The time has come for the barnyard animals to go to sleep. “Daddy cow” (best not to interrogate this too closely), “mama sheep,” “papa horse,” and more softly sing to their little ones as they nuzzle up and drift off. The animals’ signature sounds are included in their lyrics: “Moo, moo, moo, moo… / Sweet dreams, my darling baby,” croons daddy cow. The book ends with the interracial, evidently heterosexual (mom white, dad brown) farmer couple putting their own baby to sleep. The illustrations are colored with warm greens, blues, and yellows, lulling little readers to snuggle with their own caregivers. This is an ideal bedtime story for reluctant sleepers, well suited to end a long bedtime story session. The equal representation of both mothers and fathers is quite refreshing in a subgenre that seems to feature mostly moms. The singing is a nice touch, and caregivers will think about inducing their own little ones to sing repetitive lullabies that will pave the way for their own bedtimes.
An excellent bedtime storybook. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: March 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4814-8119-9
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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)
Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2014
ISBN: 978-0451469786
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Great for a birthday read and enjoyable all year long.
A little one grabs a pair of shutter shades and gets a major groove on.
"Who loves to party?" The board book kicks off with this question, and each page follows with a different animal enjoying a wild time in increasingly silly ways. Lemurs hang streamers, pheasants wrap presents, and the mole rat wears his party hat. The titular baby makes a grand entrance on the second to last page, answering the original question and taking this party to a whole new level. The rhythmic, internally rhyming lines encourage a thumping beat for little ones to clap or stomp along with. Young readers will delight at all the animals and the funky colors, and adults will snicker at the contemporary quirks of the party. More board books should have parakeets dropping beats and ocelots that rock a lot. Electric colors and busy compositions make for an appropriately frenetic accompaniment.
Great for a birthday read and enjoyable all year long. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: May 5, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2994-8
Page Count: 30
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
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