A tender, loving, nearly perfect bedtime story.
Worried Little Bunny can’t sleep and seeks reassurance from mother.
Little Bunny fears staying small and never growing big enough to do anything. Mommy is totally supportive, engaging her little one in imagining what could be and urging her little one to visualize it all in dreams. Little Bunny gives it a try, though insisting that a beloved toy elephant be a constant companion in those dreams. Maybe they’ll pretend they’re giants, or stay small enough to ride on a bumblebee, or even grow their own wings, and have lots of brave adventures, soaring over oceans or visiting outer space. Of course they will always come home to read books with Mommy. Little Bunny is finally ready for bed, with Elephant already there, dreams awaiting. The tale is told entirely in dialogue, with Mommy’s words appearing in italics to distinguish them from Little Bunny’s. Mommy’s tone is calm, thoughtful, and always encouraging, with Little Bunny open to suggestions and ready to enlarge on the possibilities. The nighttime, indoor illustrations appear softly edged and are gently hued in grays and light greens while the imaginary sequences are more colorful, with sharper edges. Mommy is depicted wearing a dress while Little Bunny is wearing pajamas before appearing in a spacesuit in the final, fall-asleep dream. No gender is assigned to Little Bunny. Young readers and their grown-ups might add their own imaginations to the proceedings as they read the tale together in two voices.
A tender, loving, nearly perfect bedtime story. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-316-53601-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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