A soothing, sweet, and eager little book.
A mouse polls his friends about their bedtime routines.
Little Mouse is introduced as inquisitive, and he certainly is. He has big questions, like how to get to the moon and back and how many stars are in the sky, but this energetic, repetitive bedtime tale focuses on more down-to-earth concerns: how Little Mouse’s pals get themselves to sleep. Dressed in pajamas covered in stars, Little Mouse appears quite matter-of-factly in his friends’ bedrooms in succession. Lift-the-flap elements reveal that Pigeon goes to bed with a huge collection of objects, including a tennis racket, a teddy bear, and a coloring book. Dog rolls around to his back, his stomach, and his side, which will encourage movement. Koala jumps on the bed to ward off ghosts, which might address bedtime fears—though this is a story about finding a bedtime routine rather than dealing with nervousness. Each spread has a similar layout and flow, making it perfect for young children who thrive on repetition. There’s a good mix of strategies shared and an ensemble moment before the cozy conclusion. The art is nothing special, but the chance to explore the different bed spaces through lift-the-flap magic will delight tots. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A soothing, sweet, and eager little book. (Picture book. 1-3)Pub Date: June 20, 2023
ISBN: 9781605378466
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2023
A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character.
One of Boynton's signature characters celebrates Halloween.
It's Halloween time, and Pookie the pig is delighted. Mom helps the little porker pick out the perfect Halloween costume, a process that spans the entire board book. Using an abcb rhyme scheme, Boynton dresses Pookie in a series of cheerful costumes, including a dragon, a bunny, and even a caped superhero. Pookie eventually settles on the holiday classic, a ghost, by way of a bedsheet. Boynton sprinkles in amusing asides to her stanzas as Pookie offers costume commentary ("It's itchy"; "It's hot"; "I feel silly"). Little readers will enjoy the notion of transforming themselves with their own Halloween costumes while reading this book, and a few parents may get some ideas as well. Boynton's clean, sharp illustrations are as good as ever. This is Pookie's first holiday title, but readers will surely welcome more.
A pleasant holiday spent with a perfectly charming character. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-553-51233-5
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Robin Corey/Random
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
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An excellent, rounded effort from a creator who knows how to deliver.
The farmyard's chickens experience Halloween.
A round, full moon shines in the sky, and the chickens of Boynton's barnyard are feeling “nervous.” Pumpkins shine “with flickering eyes,” witches and wizards wander the pastures, and one chicken has seen “a mouse of enormous size.” It’s Halloween night, and readers will delight as the chickens huddle together and try to figure out what's going on. All ends well, of course, and in Boynton's trademark silly style. (It’s really quite remarkable how her ranks of white, yellow-beaked chickens evoke rows of candy corn.) At this point parents and children know what they're in for when they pick up a book by the prolific author, and she doesn't disappoint here. The chickens are silly, the pigs are cute, and the coloring and illustrations evoke a warmth that little ones wary of Halloween will appreciate. For children leery of the ghouls and goblins lurking in the holiday's iconography, this is a perfect antidote, emphasizing all the fun Halloween has to offer.
An excellent, rounded effort from a creator who knows how to deliver. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Aug. 23, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7611-9300-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Workman
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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