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THE FARM NOISES

Name: THE FARM NOISES
Author: Ana Martin Larrañaga

developed by Ana Martin Larrañaga ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 18, 2014

A simple concept book well-suited for a shared reading experience with the youngest digerati.

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Cheery illustrations and authentic animal noises make this simple outing to the farm a happy one, introducing 10 common farm animals and their babies.

One cow is joined by one calf, mooing in delight; one horse is met by two foals, with hooves clopping along; a goat then finds her three kids bleating merrily. The pattern progresses until 10 kits scamper up to surround one sleeping rabbit. Martin-Larrañaga captures joy and movement in the animals, especially the babies, with each animal outlined in bold, hand-drawn lines. The app presents a pleasing variety of backgrounds and colors while keeping an uncluttered focus on the animals and text. Readers may choose the “noises” option, which automatically plays the animal noises, or the “quiet” version, which only plays the noises when little fingers tap a page. There is no narration, so an adult must read the names aloud and help count the baby animals. This makes for a textbook lap-sit experience, with an adult reading the app along with a baby or toddler. Unfortunately, the text does not encourage interaction, as Noisy Farm (2013) does. Given the simple text, the opportunities for additional languages to be included in updates are great.

A simple concept book well-suited for a shared reading experience with the youngest digerati. (Requires iOS 7 and above.) (iPad storybook app. 18 mos.-3)

Pub Date: July 18, 2014

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Ana Martin-Larrañaga

Review Posted Online: Sept. 2, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2014

- BOOK REVIEW
FREIGHT TRAIN TRIP!
by Susanna Leonard Hill & illustrated by Ana Martin Larrañaga

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SMILE, POUT-POUT FISH

by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2014

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.

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This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.

Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE AND THE CLASSROOM JITTERS
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
POUT-POUT FISH
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
THE POUT-POUT FISH AND THE MAD, MAD DAY
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

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MERRY CHRISTMAS, LITTLE POOKIE

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 18, 2018

The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer...

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Seven years after Little Pookie (2011) first appeared, this popular piglet is finally celebrating Christmas.

“Oh Pookie! Come look! It’s beginning to snow,” says a maternal-looking pig. But where did Pookie go? Past the Christmas tree, to put on a snowsuit of course. Pookie’s ever cheerful mama is willing to go out too. After all, “It’s a magical time to be walking with you.” When she observes, “Our noses are frozen. It’s time to go in,” Pookie protests in typical toddler style: “But I’m not c-c-c-cold!” The next three pages highlight indoor holiday preparations—making paper garlands, baking and decorating cookies. The rhyming text mirrors the spare illustrations. A spidery type that emulates handwriting makes it clear when Pookie is speaking. Then “the doorbell is ringing. / Our family and friends have arrived for the singing.” The second-to-last spread shows Pookie, mama, and six other pigs—and Boynton’s requisite chicken—singing (“Con brio”), “MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! AND A HAP-PY NEW YEAR!” Conveniently, this text is placed beneath the musical notation. Finally Pookie hangs a stocking and goes off to bed without any fuss, anticipating presents on Christmas morning.

The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer or an ideal Christmas Eve read to share with other little piggies. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)