An engrossing, luscious board book that’s sure to become a staple.
A tiger makes some friends.
“ONE sad tiger” sits alone at the beginning of this board book, but as little ones turn the pages, the furry beast explores the jungle and makes several friends. The tiger pals around with birds, insects, fish, and other tiny (at least in comparison to the tiger) jungle critters, counting them up from “TWO bright bugs” to “NINE splishy fish” and “TEN little friends.” Rayner’s watercolor illustrations are beautiful, creating lush scenes with a deep color palette that makes each turn of the page a surprise. The book is set in a hardcover binding, helping it stand out on the shelf. The one-to-10 counting structure makes this title endearingly rereadable, which adults will certainly find themselves happy to do. The tiger is just as curious and playful as the little ones reading about its adventures, making this title all the more appealing. The illustrations are taken from Rayner’s Augustus and His Smile (2006), a book whose visuals far outshone its text; their adaptation to this format with its very simple storyline makes this one of those rare successful transformations of picture book to board book. The tininess of some of the figures offered for counting marks this for older babies and toddlers.
An engrossing, luscious board book that’s sure to become a staple. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5892-5234-9
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead.
An Easter-themed board-book parody of the traditional nursery rhyme.
Unfortunately, this effort is just as sugary and uninspired as The Itsy Bitsy Snowman, offered by the same pair in 2015. A cheerful white bunny hops through a pastel world to distribute candy and treats for Easter but spills his baskets. A hedgehog, fox, mouse, and various birds come to the bunny’s rescue, retrieving the candy, helping to devise a distribution plan, and hiding the eggs. Then magically, they all fly off in a hot air balloon as the little animals in the village emerge to find the treats. Without any apparent purpose, the type changes color to highlight some words. For very young children every word is new, so highlighting “tiny tail” or “friends” makes no sense. Although the text is meant to be sung, the words don't quite fit the rhythm of the original song. Moreover, there are not clear motions to accompany the text; without the fingerplay movements, this book has none of the satisfying verve of the traditional version.
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-5621-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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