A solid and sweet look at the traditional and expanding roles of a father.
A rhyming ode to all the things daddies do with their children.
Bathing and fishing, making yummy snacks, building forts, snapping photos, giving a boost: Daddies do it all in this rollicking look at fatherhood. “Who takes you on outings / and simply won’t care / if you’ve picked your own outfit / or have messy hair? / DADDIES DO. / THAT’S WHO!” The lion dad wrestles with his cub, proclaiming how much stronger his tot is. The peacock father lets his child help on a project. The octopus child is cheered up by dad when they’re sick. And more than one parent (of any gender) may smile knowingly at the kangaroo dad who falls asleep reading to his joey. Evans’ rhyme and rhythm are spot-on, and the refrain ensures readers’ participation during read-alouds. Ferro’s brightly colored cartoon illustrations were created using gouache, colored pencil, and ink. The dad-child relationships ooze sweetness, and an owl unobtrusively placed within many spreads cues the “Who…” questions as well as the final “Guess who?” There is nary a mother in sight, and few pages show siblings. These dads prepare food and bathe and soothe their children, as nurturing as can be.
A solid and sweet look at the traditional and expanding roles of a father. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4549-2171-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2018
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
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Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.
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)Pub Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0534-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
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