EVERY DAY BIRDS

Name: EVERY DAY BIRDS
Author: Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
ISBN: 978-0-545-69980-8

by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater ; illustrated by Dylan Metrano ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 23, 2016

Beginning birding at its best, this pleasing presentation is ideal for families with preschoolers but would work well for...

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A birding primer and rhyming introduction to 20 familiar birds.

Poet and nature lover VanDerwater opens her introduction with four lines that invite a young audience to join her explorations: “Every day we watch for birds / weaving through our sky. / We listen to their calls and songs. / We like to see them fly.” She goes on to introduce 20 North American birds, representing common groups, with well-formed rhyming couplets. Each bird is presented on a single page along with one memorable characteristic: “NUTHATCH perches upside-down”; “GOOSE flies in a V.” She’s chosen birds preschoolers are likely to notice, birds they’ll encounter outside their windows and in their yards—chickadees, cardinals, and sparrows—and birds they might see on trips to parks and beaches—hawks, herons, gulls. Throughout, and appropriately for her very young audience, she’s used a single word to name the bird: jay for blue jay, finch for a goldfinch. Metrano’s bold cut-paper illustrations show identifiable birds in appropriate poses against a clean, solid-color background, with just a hint of their likely habitat. This inviting introduction concludes with the poem as a whole and additional facts about each bird family next to thumbnail reproductions of each image.

Beginning birding at its best, this pleasing presentation is ideal for families with preschoolers but would work well for storytime, too. (Informational picture book. 2-5)

Pub Date: Feb. 23, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-545-69980-8

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Orchard

Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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THE SOUND OF KINDNESS
by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater ; illustrated by Teresa Martínez

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THAT MISSING FEELING
by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater ; illustrated by Morena Forza

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WRITE! WRITE! WRITE!
by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater ; illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S HALLOWEEN

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.

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A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.

Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: July 5, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3

Page Count: 16

Publisher: HMH Books

Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK MAKES A FRIEND
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

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HAPPY EASTER, LITTLE POOKIE

From the Little Pookie series

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 31, 2023

An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character.

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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)