An arbitrary listing of activities loosely connected by the concept of seasons, the book may be too wordy for toddlers and...
A multiethnic cast of characters is shown cheerfully engaged in seasonal activities.
Sharing the pattern of all the books in the Seasons series, this celebration of the coldest months starts “I know it’s winter when...” and then provides seasonal markers framed within a child's day. From the observation that “my toes are cold in the morning” through “snow fights” and warming bowls of soup to a warm snuggle at bedtime, activities depicted are fairly typical for snowy climates. Although the book is written in first person, no one child is consistently depicted, so readers are never quite sure who is speaking. The children shown are older than board-book readers, and there is more text than would be tolerated by many toddlers. This British import reveals some incongruities that may puzzle American readers. For example, though the narrator says that “It's time for snowsuits, big boots and funny hats,” there is no snow on the ground, and two travel trailers are in the background. In companion Summer, two children splash in an inflatable pool but seem overdressed in long-sleeved and long-legged play suits rather than swimsuits, and children pick blackberries in Fall instead of Summer.
An arbitrary listing of activities loosely connected by the concept of seasons, the book may be too wordy for toddlers and doesn’t provide enough substance to engage preschoolers. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-84643-745-8
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Child's Play
Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet but not essential book.
A whole host of children presents a whole host of balls in this new installment in the Baby Unplugged series.
There are so many kinds of balls in this little board book. Big ball, shiny ball, game ball, plain ball, spot ball. And not all are necessarily balls. Some are round objects, like the snowball and the clay ball or the blueberry that is a “tiny ball.” Some balls are verb balls, like the “throw ball, / catch ball, / go ball, / fetch ball!” There is even a gotcha! ball that’s “not ball”—it’s a cube! And all these balls are being played with by an equally eclectic group of children. African-American, Asian, brown-skinned, and blond and brunette white children are all represented here in illustrations that are charming and clear but not particularly artful. It feels as though both author and illustrator are trying so hard to include so much that they’ve almost forgotten to have fun. It’s reminiscent of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish but without the spark that turns an OK book into a timeless classic. Best suited for young children who are already quite verbal.
A sweet but not essential book. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: April 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-936669-42-4
Page Count: 14
Publisher: blue manatee press
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
A terrific resource for fans of Daniel Tiger and newcomers alike.
Animated PBS character Daniel Tiger helps readers tell time.
Mr. Rogers–like (explicitly—the show is produced by the Fred Rogers Co.), Daniel Tiger welcomes his neighbors, inviting them to spend the day with him and learn to use a clock along the way. A large clock face with movable hands is accessible through a large, die-cut circle in the upper-right corner of each double-page spread. The hands click and clack as they’re moved around the clock’s face, and the sound is peculiarly satisfying. Each hand has a different noise, helping children to differentiate between the two. Daniel and his family and friends do lots of things throughout the day, including eating breakfast, going to school, running errands, eating dinner, and going to bed. The illustrations emulate the show’s rounded, calmly colored style. Fans of the television show will be entranced. Daniel’s constant engagement with readers will spawn busy interaction, and the fact that this book covers a whole day makes it an excellent read right before bed.
A terrific resource for fans of Daniel Tiger and newcomers alike. (Board book. 2-3)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-6934-0
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Simon Spotlight
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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