Resist the sad puppy eyes—sturdier and more effective puppy books are available.
A book of cute puppies: hard to go wrong, right?
Extra-puffy board pages hide tactile elements for little fingers to feel in double-page spreads that illustrate contrasting characteristics. The most effective spread contrasts a “messy puppy” with a “clean puppy” (complete with shiny bath bubbles). The small (5 inches square) trim is perfect for little hands. And what could be cuter than puppies? (Maybe Kittens, the topic of a companion volume published at the same time.) Unfortunately, the diminutive size means the tactile patches are also tiny—often less than 1 inch square. Finding the furry or soft bit becomes the game. Pages with extra-subtle tactile features (such as a Westie’s nose) will be quickly skipped over before an adult can even read the minimal text aloud. Placement of some of the patches is awkward too. A black-and-white Great Dane puppy has a bone-shaped black spot that looks as though it was carved into the poor doggy’s chest. Little fingers will tear at the page to see if there is more fur hiding underneath. The tactile elements spoil what is otherwise a language-rich bundle of cuteness.
Resist the sad puppy eyes—sturdier and more effective puppy books are available. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 3, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4654-5621-2
Page Count: 14
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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
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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
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