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ONE EAGLE SOARING

From the First West Coast Books series

This book showcases the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and will delight and engage resident and nonlocal toddlers alike.

Following Hello Humpback! (2017), Budd and First Nations artist Vickers (Tsimshian, Haida, and Heiltsuk) are back, this time counting up from one to 10.

Vickers offers vivid illustrations of West Coast animals in their natural habitats along with traditional Pacific Northwest Indigenous motifs. Each number is presented on one double-page spread, except for seven swans and eight robins, presented together. Each line of the rhyming text begins with the written number and animal shown on that page, printed in raised glossy black uppercase letters; the rest of the sentence is in cursive lowercase letters. Corresponding numerals are printed in the corners. “FIVE SEA LIONS like it sunny // SIX BEARS hunt for honey.” Many of the animals are also presented in raised glossy illustrations with vivid colors. The Indigenous motifs are often subtly incorporated, as with two glossy all-black herons embossed against matte black backgrounds. Every turn of the page brings a new, dramatic landscape that showcases these animals. Although not all the animals in the book are specifically iconic to the Pacific Northwest, the tactile raised elements and the Indigenous motifs add a unique and important component to the enjoyment of this book.

This book showcases the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and will delight and engage resident and nonlocal toddlers alike. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-55017-828-9

Page Count: 20

Publisher: Harbour Publishing

Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019

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SMILE, POUT-POUT FISH

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.

This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.

Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014

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MERRY CHRISTMAS, LITTLE POOKIE

The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer...

Seven years after Little Pookie (2011) first appeared, this popular piglet is finally celebrating Christmas.

“Oh Pookie! Come look! It’s beginning to snow,” says a maternal-looking pig. But where did Pookie go? Past the Christmas tree, to put on a snowsuit of course. Pookie’s ever cheerful mama is willing to go out too. After all, “It’s a magical time to be walking with you.” When she observes, “Our noses are frozen. It’s time to go in,” Pookie protests in typical toddler style: “But I’m not c-c-c-cold!” The next three pages highlight indoor holiday preparations—making paper garlands, baking and decorating cookies. The rhyming text mirrors the spare illustrations. A spidery type that emulates handwriting makes it clear when Pookie is speaking. Then “the doorbell is ringing. / Our family and friends have arrived for the singing.” The second-to-last spread shows Pookie, mama, and six other pigs—and Boynton’s requisite chicken—singing (“Con brio”), “MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! MER-RY CHRIST-MAS! AND A HAP-PY NEW YEAR!” Conveniently, this text is placed beneath the musical notation. Finally Pookie hangs a stocking and goes off to bed without any fuss, anticipating presents on Christmas morning.

The small size, a predictable winter adventure, and Boynton’s very toddlerlike character make this a fine stocking stuffer or an ideal Christmas Eve read to share with other little piggies. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)

Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5344-3724-1

Page Count: 18

Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019

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