While most potty books strike readers as too old or too young, here’s one that almost everyone can agree is (you guessed it)...
A classic fairy tale is cleverly reworked for those transitioning from diapers.
Breaking out buckets o’ charm, Hodgkinson tackles the finicky tendencies of the soon-to-be potty-trained with the aid of a familiar face. Living in the woods with her mommy and daddy (not an ursine porridge-eater to be seen), Goldilocks (unsurprisingly, a blonde, white girl) decides one day that soggy diapers are not ideal. But what underwear suits her best? Nothing too frilly and nothing too silly, but undies that are “just right!” Next comes the search for a potty itself. She rejects a pair of boots as too big and a teacup as too small (child readers may well find this hilarious, even as caregivers sigh in relief when she moves on). Correct potty secured, the final challenge is the hardest, as any toddler will attest. When is it the “just right” time to sit on the potty? Sprinkling her art with images of bear toys, Hodgkinson creates mixed-media illustrations that lend the simple text a peppy tone that encourages young readers to keep trying through their setbacks. And thanks to the easy language, this book proves ideal for a wide range of potty training ages (a nice change of pace from potty books that truck in complex sentence structures).
While most potty books strike readers as too old or too young, here’s one that almost everyone can agree is (you guessed it) just right. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Dec. 12, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9799-0
Page Count: 30
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Parents of toddlers starting school or day care should seek separation-anxiety remedies elsewhere, and fans of the original...
A sweetened, condensed version of the best-selling picture book, The Kissing Hand.
As in the original, Chester Raccoon is nervous about attending Owl’s night school (raccoons are nocturnal). His mom kisses him on the paw and reminds him, “With a Kissing Hand… / We’ll never be apart.” The text boils the story down to its key elements, causing this version to feel rushed. Gone is the list of fun things Chester will get to do at school. Fans of the original may be disappointed that this board edition uses a different illustrator. Gibson’s work is equally sentimental, but her renderings are stiff and flat in comparison to the watercolors of Harper and Leak. Very young readers will probably not understand that Owl’s tree, filled with opossums, a squirrel, a chipmunk and others, is supposed to be a school.
Parents of toddlers starting school or day care should seek separation-anxiety remedies elsewhere, and fans of the original shouldn’t look to this version as replacement for their page-worn copies. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-933718-77-4
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Tanglewood Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Treacle drips from every page. Find self-esteem elsewhere.
The voice of an omniscient narrator, who may or may not be a caregiver, speaks directly to an unhappy child with an invitation to a very special place.
The child follows directions to the beautiful title isle “just across the bay.” Ferried across by a toy elephant in a sailboat, the child is given an enthusiastic welcome by more adorable animals and some other children. The little one swims in a waterfall, rides a giant eagle, relaxes in a hammock, and happily engages with some of the other children. Several of the activities are stereotypically girl-associated, and the other children appear to be girls with varying skin tones and hair textures; the little protagonist has light skin and a brown pageboy and is only suggested as female. After elaborate entertainments and a sweet feast, the child is assured that “someone loves you very, very, very much” before being borne safely home. Deep purple, bright pastel pink, and yellow watercolors dominate the color palette, creating a magical, otherworldly atmosphere. But it is also somewhat creepy as well. The Isle of You exists only for the protagonist’s happiness, even the other children there, who appear to have no existence in the real world. Apparently intended to build self-esteem and comfort, it seems to encourage self-centeredness instead, as does the ending play on the pronunciation of the title words.
Treacle drips from every page. Find self-esteem elsewhere. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Dec. 11, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9116-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2018
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