A pleasant choice for a cozy read though not quite as sweet as the characters’ first outing. (Picture book. 2-6)
Bear and brother, introduced in How to Share with a Bear (2015), are back.
Well, brother Thomas is anyway. His brother, the bear, is too busy hibernating to help build a snow critter. Thomas shakes the bear, serenades the bear, and tries to bribe the bear. Finally, a few freshly baked cookies do the trick. Once vertical, the bear gets dressed for the trek outdoors. The two brothers assemble a cookie-eared snow bear, go sledding, dig out a snow cave, and go home to share a cuddle and a book. In spite of all the togetherness, Pinder's light touch is missing in this sequel. The myriad activities deflect the focus from the deep caring evident between the bear and his older brother. Dwelling on the bear hibernating or the brothers hangin’ with the snow bear would have given space for that intimacy. Also, the sound effects accompanying the boys’ meanderings have increased to the point where they impede rather than enhance the narrative flow. Graegin’s choice of muted colors infuses the story with an overall intimate and comfy feel. The soft browns of the characters’ faces, bear suit, and house interior reflect the warmth permeating the brothers’ loving interactions.
A pleasant choice for a cozy read though not quite as sweet as the characters’ first outing. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-374-30020-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: June 27, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own...
The sturdy Little Blue Truck is back for his third adventure, this time delivering Christmas trees to his band of animal pals.
The truck is decked out for the season with a Christmas wreath that suggests a nose between headlights acting as eyeballs. Little Blue loads up with trees at Toad’s Trees, where five trees are marked with numbered tags. These five trees are counted and arithmetically manipulated in various ways throughout the rhyming story as they are dropped off one by one to Little Blue’s friends. The final tree is reserved for the truck’s own use at his garage home, where he is welcomed back by the tree salestoad in a neatly circular fashion. The last tree is already decorated, and Little Blue gets a surprise along with readers, as tiny lights embedded in the illustrations sparkle for a few seconds when the last page is turned. Though it’s a gimmick, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it fits with the retro atmosphere of the snowy country scenes. The short, rhyming text is accented with colored highlights, red for the animal sounds and bright green for the numerical words in the Christmas-tree countdown.
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own tree that will put a twinkle in a toddler’s eyes. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-544-32041-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
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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
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