THERE WAS AN OLD GIANT WHO SWALLOWED A CLOCK

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THERE WAS AN OLD GIANT WHO SWALLOWED A CLOCK

Name: THERE WAS AN OLD GIANT WHO SWALLOWED A CLOCK
Author: Becky Davies
ISBN: 978-1-68010-076-1

by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Elina Ellis ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2018

Great fun.

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And not a small clock, either!

Apparently, this giant is related to that old lady who swallowed a fly. He is also a clock aficionado, or perhaps a clock repairman, as he’s surrounded by them. In any event, the white giant “had such a shock when he swallowed that clock!” After this, he swallows his knitting, a moth that he finds in his closet, some honey, even a bear. (“He swallowed the bear to eat up the honey.”) Next, he swallows a net “to catch the bear.” He tries a boat to “pull in the net.” Then he swallows the sea to “wash down the boat,” and finally tries swallowing the moon. Why? To “soak up the sea. / Not very clever—I’m sure you’ll agree!” Ingenious book design features a die-cut hole in the right-hand page, showing the clock that he has swallowed. The left-hand page features that first verse. Then when readers turn the pages, the hole on the left-hand page repeats that first verse in smaller type, while through the increasingly large holes on the right-hand pages, readers see the swallowed item(s). By the end, the hole is large, the verse is long, and the giant’s stomach sure to succumb to indigestion. Ellis’ pictures are refreshingly kooky, filled with various cats, mice, and other small critters who view the goings-on with some interest. Davies wisely sticks to the meter of her inspiration, and caregivers will likely sing that tune as they share the book.

Great fun. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: March 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-68010-076-1

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Tiger Tales

Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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HOW TO MAKE A BOOK
by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Patricia Hu

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CITIES OF THE WORLD
by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Josie Portillo

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I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ALL THE STARS
by Becky Davies ; illustrated by Dana Brown

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CINDERELLA

From the Once Upon a World series

by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Sandra Equihua ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2016

A nice but not requisite purchase.

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A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.

Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.

A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)

Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LITTLE MERMAID
adapted by Hannah Eliot ; illustrated by Nivea Ortiz

- BOOK REVIEW
THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova

- BOOK REVIEW
RAPUNZEL
by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

- BOOK REVIEW
THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova

- BOOK REVIEW
RAPUNZEL
by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

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THE GRUFFALO

by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Axel Scheffler ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 1999

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The action of this rhymed and humorous tale centers upon a mouse who "took a stroll/through the deep dark wood./A fox saw the mouse/and the mouse looked good." The mouse escapes being eaten by telling the fox that he is on his way to meet his friend the gruffalo (a monster of his imagination), whose favorite food is roasted fox. The fox beats a hasty retreat. Similar escapes are in store for an owl and a snake; both hightail it when they learn the particulars: tusks, claws, terrible jaws, eyes orange, tongue black, purple prickles on its back. When the gruffalo suddenly materializes out of the mouse's head and into the forest, the mouse has to think quick, declaring himself inedible as the "scariest creature in the deep dark wood," and inviting the gruffalo to follow him to witness the effect he has on the other creatures. When the gruffalo hears that the mouse's favorite food is gruffalo crumble, he runs away. It's a fairly innocuous tale, with twists that aren't sharp enough and treachery that has no punch. Scheffler's funny scenes prevent the suspense from culminating; all his creatures, predator and prey, are downright lovable. (Picture book. 3-6)