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5 VERY LITTLE PUMPKINS

Name: 5 VERY LITTLE PUMPKINS
Author: Holly Weane
ISBN: 978-1-4867-1673-9

by Holly Weane ; illustrated by Ivana Forgo ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 4, 2019

Not quite a trick—but not really a treat, either. (Board book. 2-4)

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Five animals dressed in jolly jack-o’-lantern costumes experience Halloween traditions.

In this not-too-spooky board book, an odd combo composed of a cat, a dog, a goat, an elephant, and what appears to be a dinosaur go trick-or-treating. Told in boisterous rhyme that starts out comparatively strong, the first half of the book describes the process of going house to house, knocking, and filling a treat bag with candy, making it an adequate vehicle for preparing the smallest of trick-or-treaters for the festivities. But when the story veers to a late-night trip to the pumpkin patch to gorge on candy, it models behavior that most caregivers will find less appealing or useful. At the same time, the rhyme becomes strained and uninspired: Children with “tummies that all ache” usually don’t “GIGGLE, and then JIGGLE, / and then DANCE around and SHAKE.” Interspersed capitalized words might help adults read aloud with emphasis, but it’s overwhelming in its forced enthusiasm. The folksy art is competent, but the simple lines, busy fall-leaf–themed foreground, and blobby, uninspired cartoon animals aren’t especially compelling, and there are some elements, such as menacingly leering mushrooms or evilly grinning jack-o’-lanterns, that feel too dark for such a light book. A padded, lightly embossed cover is solid enough to hold up to rough handling by small, candy-coated fingers.

Not quite a trick—but not really a treat, either. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4867-1673-9

Page Count: 20

Publisher: Flowerpot Press

Review Posted Online: Aug. 25, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
DEM BONES
adapted by Holly Weane ; illustrated by Ivana Forgo

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S HALLOWEEN

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK MAKES A FRIEND
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S VALENTINE
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

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ANIMAL SHAPES

by Christopher Silas Neal ; illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2018

Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.

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You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!

What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?

Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)