Nice enough but far from a requisite purchase.
A die-cut board book with a simple presentation of the Christmas theme for the youngest ones.
On the cover, a snowman with a die-cut tummy introduces the theme. Layered behind the round, open circle that makes up his body, readers can glimpse pieces of the pages inside. Open the book and meet the well-known elements of a shopping-mall-secular Christmas celebration: reindeer, elf, bag, presents, sleigh, boots, Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus, Christmas tree, Christmas Eve. The elf and both the Clauses are white. The illustrations are colorful and cheery, but the die cuts are at times problematic. For example, two little circles represent buttons for several figures, including the snowman and Santa’s jacket, but appear as baffling holes on a Christmas present and the sleigh. Though the snowman’s body is cleverly built up from the pages behind it, the big open circle means the body of the reindeer on the next page is just an empty void. That empty void carries through on the left-hand pages, and when it gets to Mrs. Claus, it is an awkward empty space between her knees and her tummy. Still, babies will enjoy the transformations occurring as they turn the pages, and the peekaboo element inherent to die cuts is always sure to please.
Nice enough but far from a requisite purchase. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0344-0
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2016
Cute and sprightly but not a standout.
Deck the stalls?
A bevy of barnyard animals, a cat, and some dogs get fully into the Christmas spirit by sprucing up the farm with colorful decorations, including holly berries and sparkling baubles. They have a great time and sing while going about their merry chores in a manner somewhat in keeping with the rhythm of the classic tune “Deck the Halls.” (In fact, a flock of sheep are shown holding song sheets for it.) As might be expected with these particular celebrants, some of the familiar lyrics are altered just a bit; for instance, “boughs of holly” is “translated” as “cows and holly.” Adult readers expecting the rhythm here to work exactly as it does in the original will be disappointed, because it doesn’t—it’s clunky. This is merely a brief, lightweight spoof of the familiar ditty, so it’s recommended that grown-ups read rather than sing this—except for that final line!—to very young targeted audiences, who may be unfamiliar with the actual song anyway. Some fun is still to be had in the illustrations, however. The spirited, wittily expressive animal characters are depicted having a fine time romping about and producing a variety of onomatopoeic sounds throughout. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Cute and sprightly but not a standout. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-66591-435-2
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Boynton Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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Exactly what readers want and expect from the board-book master.
Pookie and family celebrate Thanksgiving.
Boynton’s precocious little pig is back in this holiday installment. The family gets ready for Thanksgiving by baking pies, welcoming Nemmy and Boppa for dinner, and sharing gratitude (and pie!). Boynton’s familiar rhyming text and simple, thick-lined illustrations are exactly what readers have come to expect from this series: Pookie is a little silly, the story bounces along, and the artwork is warm and cozy. Though most of the action takes place inside, the passage of day is clear through the window, from daylight to the setting sun. Decorations and a tree with just a few leaves on it indicate the autumnal season. There are two pages where numbers are called out, presented differently from the rest of the typeface (Pookie and their parents prepare apple pie and one pumpkin pie, and there will be five guests at dinner). The only bolded digits are one and five, even though the text does mention that there will be a total of two pies—a stylistic choice that seems to point readers to counting practice but that feels a bit random. Overall, though, this is a worthy new story about one of Boynton’s most beloved characters. True to form, it’s a toddler-friendly read, providing context for the festivities and a sweet representation of gratitude. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Exactly what readers want and expect from the board-book master. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-66592-263-0
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Boynton Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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