This charming story is as light as air yet carries heft. (Picture book. 2-4)
As a Spanish-speaking giraffe and an English-speaking giraffe meet, they discover friendship has no language barriers.
Two giraffes meet—“Oooh / Aaah”—and find they have much in common. They agree the acacia they nibble on is delicious and that they can share water from the same pond. And as they eat and drink, they get to greet. “Hello? / ¿Hola?” and “Good day! / ¡Buenos días!” lead to “Happy / Feliz” and “Friends? / ¿Amigos?” and a shared, enthusiastic “OK.” Time now to celebrate: “Party! / ¡Fiesta!” And after that? “Nap? / ¿Siesta?” of course! The final two-page spread shows a tangle of balloons and giraffes sharing Zzzzs. Some things indeed are universal. The illustrations by Pura Belpré honoree Dominguez, created with pencil and tissue paper, then digitally colorized, feature the two giraffes in bold outlines and a limited palette of earth tones. Each two-page spread positions the English-speaking giraffe on the left and the Spanish-speaking one on the right, with only one word per page. Standing out against a white background, the giraffes, or parts of the giraffes, are depicted from different perspectives that add movement and nuance to the story. With only 20 words (fewer, really, since most words are just the equivalent word in the opposite language), so much can be said. Astute adult readers could turn it into a language lesson or a conversation on friendship.
This charming story is as light as air yet carries heft. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62779-496-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character.
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)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-66592-838-0
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Boynton Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
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