An uncomplicated celebration of daily triumph for those who refuse to be babied.
A young forest dweller faces a new challenge with a mixture of doubt and determination.
Sloth and her friend Moth climb high up in a tree before looking down to see how far they’ve come. Moth reminds her that Worm told them that baby sloths were too scared to climb so high, but they’ve shown him! Sloth retorts, “I’m not a baby”—a refrain that repeats several times over the course of the story. Though Sloth initially delivers her response with beaming confidence, fear begins to seep in with Moth’s reminders that she could fall, which would be scary…if she were a baby! Sloth points out that other animals—various insects, Monkey, and Snail—are capable of climbing high. Moth counters her arguments: Insects have wings, Monkey is really fast, Snail is incredibly sticky. Close-ups of Sloth’s animated facial expressions convey her growing trepidation. As Sloth becomes convinced that she will fall, a storm hits, and all the other animal friends are momentarily flung off the tree, despite their climbing advantages. Only Sloth manages a tight grasp, and as the storm lifts, Moth celebrates Sloth’s unique talent for holding on. Told simply, with effective use of repetition and expressive cartoon illustrations, this story will appeal to children who are similarly finding their footing in a sometimes-scary world.
An uncomplicated celebration of daily triumph for those who refuse to be babied. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: June 11, 2024
ISBN: 9781250878779
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2024
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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