Toddlers will likely enjoy the vehicles, but, as a counting book, this one doesn’t add up.
A large, green reptile and a beaver roll out vehicles with an ever increasing number of wheels in this counting book.
The crocodilian creature begins the counting exercise by happily riding on a unicycle and stating “One wheel!” via speech bubble. The beaver storms off in a huff—a scribbly black cloud over its head—and comes back on a bicycle declaring, “One MORE wheel!” Each page turn brings with it another vehicle with “one more wheel” than the conveyance prior as the critters try to out-do each other, shouting the titular repeated phrase. There’s a monster truck with four wheels, a five-wheeled desk chair, and a race car with six wheels. A white numeral printed in a large, colorful quarter-circle in the upper-left-hand corner indicates the number of wheels. This is useful, as several of the contraptions have wheels that are difficult to count. The roller skates’ eight wheels are too small, for instance, and many of the wheels are hard to discern as they are on the far side of the vehicles, as in the case of the nine wheels on the boat trailer/pickup truck combo. On the final double-page spread the beaver and reptile have finally joined forces to drive a 10-wheeled locomotive that pulls “ALL THE WHEELS!” Readers can then review all the contraptions that have come before with two telescoping panels that slide out in graduating sizes from the final page. Russo’s droll cartoons on white backgrounds enliven the project, as do three spinnable wheels on the cover.
Toddlers will likely enjoy the vehicles, but, as a counting book, this one doesn’t add up. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-250-30759-0
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Odd Dot
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
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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