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BLUEBEAR BOOK

Name: BLUEBEAR BOOK
Author: Robert Lewis

by Robert Lewis & illustrated by Robert Lewis & developed by Leola Book ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 6, 2013

A plain-vanilla alternative to the frenetic hordes.

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This tale about a laid-back cobalt teddy bear demonstrates the value of a leisurely and unhurried lifestyle.

Bluebear leads a pretty charmed life. He lives in an adorable yellow-and-red cottage by the sea. In the spring, he plants tomatoes and then spends his summer tending the soil and drinking lemonade while gazing at the ocean. Once the tomatoes are ripe, he picks them, bakes bread and has a jazzy picnic with the flowers, butterflies and bees. Inspired by the calm and peaceful vibe of Fred Rogers, Lewis wrote and illustrated the story for his young son in the early 1990s (according to an author’s note). This adaptation most certainly moves at a snail’s pace and offers very limited animation and interaction, which seems to be the point here. Butterflies flutter by; potted tomato plants play the notes of a scale when individually tapped; flour puffs across the screen while Bluebear is baking bread. But for the most part, each page offers minimal movement. The optional narration is likewise deliberate, and unfortunately, it is drowned out at times by the otherwise enjoyable musical accompaniments. Tap the “fun” button for a step-by-step tutorial on baking bread (which is enticing, but seems a little ambitious for a preschooler app activity).

A plain-vanilla alternative to the frenetic hordes. (iPad storybook app. 1-4)

Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2013

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Leola Book LLC

Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014

- BOOK REVIEW
RED CLOUD'S WAR
by Paul Goble ; illustrated by Paul Goble ; introduction by Robert Lewis

- BOOK REVIEW
PINE AND THE WINTER SPARROW
retold by Alexis York Lumbard ; illustrated by Beatriz Vidal ; introduction by Robert Lewis

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MOO, BAA, FA LA LA LA LA!

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2022

Cute and sprightly but not a standout.

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Deck the stalls?

A bevy of barnyard animals, a cat, and some dogs get fully into the Christmas spirit by sprucing up the farm with colorful decorations, including holly berries and sparkling baubles. They have a great time and sing while going about their merry chores in a manner somewhat in keeping with the rhythm of the classic tune “Deck the Halls.” (In fact, a flock of sheep are shown holding song sheets for it.) As might be expected with these particular celebrants, some of the familiar lyrics are altered just a bit; for instance, “boughs of holly” is “translated” as “cows and holly.” Adult readers expecting the rhythm here to work exactly as it does in the original will be disappointed, because it doesn’t—it’s clunky. This is merely a brief, lightweight spoof of the familiar ditty, so it’s recommended that grown-ups read rather than sing this—except for that final line!—to very young targeted audiences, who may be unfamiliar with the actual song anyway. Some fun is still to be had in the illustrations, however. The spirited, wittily expressive animal characters are depicted having a fine time romping about and producing a variety of onomatopoeic sounds throughout. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Cute and sprightly but not a standout. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-66591-435-2

Page Count: 16

Publisher: Boynton Bookworks

Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
HIPPOS REMAIN CALM
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

- BOOK REVIEW
WOO HOO! YOU'RE DOING GREAT!
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

- BOOK REVIEW
HAPPY EASTER, LITTLE POOKIE
by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S SPRINGTIME

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 2, 2018

Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come.

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Little Blue Truck and his pal Toad meet friends old and new on a springtime drive through the country.

This lift-the-flap, interactive entry in the popular Little Blue Truck series lacks the narrative strength and valuable life lessons of the original Little Blue Truck (2008) and its sequel, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (2009). Both of those books, published for preschoolers rather than toddlers, featured rich storylines, dramatic, kinetic illustrations, and simple but valuable life lessons—the folly of taking oneself too seriously, the importance of friends, and the virtue of taking turns, for example. At about half the length and with half as much text as the aforementioned titles, this volume is a much quicker read. Less a story than a vernal celebration, the book depicts a bucolic drive through farmland and encounters with various animals and their young along the way. Beautifully rendered two-page tableaux teem with butterflies, blossoms, and vibrant pastel, springtime colors. Little Blue greets a sheep standing in the door of a barn: “Yoo-hoo, Sheep! / Beep-beep! / What’s new?” Folding back the durable, card-stock flap reveals the barn’s interior and an adorable set of twin lambs. Encounters with a duck and nine ducklings, a cow with a calf, a pig with 10 (!) piglets, a family of bunnies, and a chicken with a freshly hatched chick provide ample opportunity for counting and vocabulary work.

Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come. (Board book. 1-4)