Here's a likable tale about a wayward goose on a quest to find a home. Goose sets out on a blustery day to establish a nest, searching for something warm and soft, quiet and cozy. However, each time the hapless fowl settles on a place, she discovers it's already occupied. A warm shed reveals a bevy of squealing pigs while a nicely cushioned box is beset by a jumble of kittens and their mama. Thus it continues, as she wanders about the farmyard, encountering everything from sheep to chickens. Ultimately, the farmer's windblown hat becomes her habitat of choice, where she quickly lays some eggs. Tafuri (Will You Be My Friend?, 2000, etc.) captures a child's sense of awe at the wondrous nature of everyday events. Her simple tale provides a gentle moral about the rewards of perseverance in the face of challenges. A liberal sprinkling of silliness makes this ideal for group read-aloud sessions; the oft-repeated refrain "Silly Little Goose!" blatantly encourages reader's exuberant participation. Clearly drawn and softly hued, the full-color illustrations are perfect for young children, who can easily recognize the familiar barnyard animals beginning on the verso and dedication pages, which are a full-bleed, labeled overview of the farm. The pictures on the two pages for each search don't fill the space, but when she's turned out, they expand to the edges to accent the drama of her mistake. The humorous inclusion of the farmer's tumbling hat glimpsed in the background of many of the illustrations provides junior sleuths with a clue to Goose's eventual home. This little goose has plenty of pluck, even though she is a bit silly. (Picture book. 2-6)
Pub Date: April 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-439-06304-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2001
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
BOOK REVIEW
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