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JUMP INTO FALL!

A pleasant and warm trip in to fall.

A brown bear celebrates the season.

“Golden, orange, red, and brown, / seen on trees throughout the town.” Rhyming couplets that evoke the sights and smells of autumn accompany orange-hued double-page spreads that make up this cute ode to fall. A cuddly bear jumps into a glittery pile of leaves on the last page, and a large series of concentric cutouts that goes from the cover to the final page makes that final scene the focus of the whole book. These holes muck up the compositions a bit, as there’s always a large black hole on the verso framing whatever’s in the reader’s environment as a distraction. Regardless, the text is warm and evocative of the best days of fall, when there are leaves to rake, pies to eat, and kites to fly. The bears playing in the autumn weather evoke fluffy teddy bears, instantly appealing to little ones.

A pleasant and warm trip in to fall. (Board book. 1-2)

Pub Date: July 5, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4998-0298-6

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Little Bee Books

Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017

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WHERE'S THE LADYBUG?

A lovely, simple lift-the-flap book that will stand the test of many a mighty tot.

Little ones learn about bugs.

The world of insects and like small creatures is the focus of this sturdy board book. Each turn of the page gives readers a close view of a particular habitat. The text asks, “Where’s the ladybug?” or “Where’s the snail?” and little ones are encouraged to find the creatures under shaped felt flaps. A caterpillar poses under a leaf with a few bites taken out of it; a bumblebee flies behind a pink tulip. The flaps are made of a reasonably strong material, secured tightly within the book’s pages. Extremely determined readers may figure out a way to pull the flaps out, but most will enjoy flipping them up and over with ease. The last page of the book contains a mirror hidden behind a bush-shaped flap, and readers are asked “And where are you?” The insects smile with big eyes and are composed of large, circular, clean-edged shapes. The color palette is dulled, making the neon flaps pop effectively for little readers. Concurrently publishing companion Where’s the Giraffe? explores the world of jungle animals.

A lovely, simple lift-the-flap book that will stand the test of many a mighty tot. (Board book. 1-2)

Pub Date: March 28, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-7636-9335-0

Page Count: 10

Publisher: Nosy Crow

Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017

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HOP! HOP!

As bright and bold as the holiday it celebrates.

An excited little one celebrates Easter.

The Easter Bunny is on its way, and Patricelli’s one-haired tot is thrilled. He prepares for the holiday by painting eggs and making bunny ears. On the big day, he excitedly looks for Easter eggs while his parents watch. The bold, rounded illustrations catch the eye, with a wide range of colors used throughout. The author pays a little lip service toward education by showing primary colors combining to create secondary colors, but the book's main focus is the exuberance that comes with celebrating the holiday, particularly when the traditions are so new and exciting. The enthusiasm is infectious, and read-alouds will most likely lead to little ones’ looking to do some arts and crafts of their very own.

As bright and bold as the holiday it celebrates. (Board book. 1-2)

Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-7636-6319-3

Page Count: 26

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015

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