While not much of a guessing game, little ones will enjoy the action of interactive elements.
A rabbit, a fox, a horse, a monkey and a pig need help to find their proper tails.
On the first four double-page spreads, the animals appear in their natural habitats sporting a corkscrew-shaped tail. The serviceable text tells readers something is not right here, as on the rabbit page: “I eat carrots. That’s not my fluffy tail! Who am I?” Readers can pull a panel embedded in the page to slide the correct tail into position, while the name of the creature is also revealed. The owner of the curly tail appears on the last spread, and the final interactive feature is a spin dial allowing readers to match the pig up with the proper appendage. The companion book, Who Am I? This Is My Mouth, presents a different assortment of creatures sporting a green snout and in search of the right beak or nose. The text is written in verse here, but readers will hardly notice the forgettable lines when there are panels to slide and dials to spin. Fortunately, the interactive features in both offerings slide and spin easily and seem sturdy enough to stand up to repeated wear and tear. Rinaldo’s cheerful cartoons are done in friendly colors, the thick black lines used to draw the central creatures make them stand out, and subtle patterns within the landscapes provide some texture to the backgrounds.
While not much of a guessing game, little ones will enjoy the action of interactive elements. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)Pub Date: June 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4083-1510-1
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Trafalgar Square
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013
In this board book designed for the littlest llama lovers, adorable-as-ever Llama Llama (Llama Llama Red Pajama, 2005, etc.) gets ready for some Halloween fun.
Dewdney’s characteristic spare, apt rhymes convey a lot of action in effortlessly readable fashion. A charming and simple introduction to Halloween and its associated activities, this title finds little Llama Llama choosing and carving a pumpkin, pouring candy into bowls, picking out a costume and, finally, trick-or-treating. The costume Llama Llama decides to don—pointy teeth and a black mask and cape—is enough to frighten and fool his friends but not readers, who will immediately recognize and smile at the silly little mini-Dracula. With Dewdney’s characters as expressive as ever, young readers will be drawn right into the holiday fun, eagerly anticipating which costume Llama Llama will choose and excited to see him scare his friends and score some candy at trick-or-treat. In the equally appealing companion title, Llama Llama Jingle Bells,the little fellow gets ready for Christmas, baking and decorating some cookies in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. This simple holiday title will win Llama Llama new fans, and old friends will want to add it and its companion to their collections. (Board book. 1-2)
Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2014
ISBN: 978-0451469786
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead.
An Easter-themed board-book parody of the traditional nursery rhyme.
Unfortunately, this effort is just as sugary and uninspired as The Itsy Bitsy Snowman, offered by the same pair in 2015. A cheerful white bunny hops through a pastel world to distribute candy and treats for Easter but spills his baskets. A hedgehog, fox, mouse, and various birds come to the bunny’s rescue, retrieving the candy, helping to devise a distribution plan, and hiding the eggs. Then magically, they all fly off in a hot air balloon as the little animals in the village emerge to find the treats. Without any apparent purpose, the type changes color to highlight some words. For very young children every word is new, so highlighting “tiny tail” or “friends” makes no sense. Although the text is meant to be sung, the words don't quite fit the rhythm of the original song. Moreover, there are not clear motions to accompany the text; without the fingerplay movements, this book has none of the satisfying verve of the traditional version.
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-5621-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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