Toddlers might “jump” for joy over this bouncy board book and its companions.
Frolic along with a little boy and his newly hatched chick friend as they demonstrate the titular actions and many more.
The book pops with clearly demonstrated action words. “Leap” sends boy and bird soaring upward, while the little chicky performs a cute tail “wiggle.” It’s all so inviting that children might find themselves wanting to “dance” or “stomp” right along. Sato scaffolds a simple visual narrative onto the words, beginning with the chick’s hatching, moving on to playtime, a tiff, and then forgiveness, and ending with bedtime and a peaceful “snooze.” For little listeners, it’s the perfect amount of plot and intrigue. A high-contrast palette of black, white, baby blue, and gold on brilliant Day-Glo blue background makes the duo burst off the page, and the lack of scenery keeps the spotlight on the buddies’ antics. Negative space defines the characters, who are created from simple but evocative rounded shapes (the chick resembles a curvy sweet potato). Expressive curved-line smiles, comically askew feet, triangle beak, and eye-catching motion lines make the vignettes feel exuberantly animated. Adding to its overall appeal, this is one durable book, with robustly textured pages that feel water-resistant and a sturdy binding. It’s part of a board-book trio, each with its own signature Day-Glo color and friendly animal foil. Happy Grumpy Loved explores feelings, while Hide Seek Stinky Sweet covers opposites.
Toddlers might “jump” for joy over this bouncy board book and its companions. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: June 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-946873-09-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: May 22, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, but the syrupy sweetness will cloy after the holiday.
Animal parents declare their love for their offspring in alphabetical order.
Each page displays an enormous capital letter, one line of verse with the keyword capitalized, and a loving nonhuman parent gazing adoringly at their baby. “A is for Always. I always love you more. / B is for Butterfly kisses. It’s you that I adore.” While not named or labelled as such, the A is also for an alligator and its hatchling and B is for a butterfly and a butterfly child (not a caterpillar—biology is not the aim of this title) interacting in some way with the said letter. For E there are an elephant and a calf; U features a unicorn and foal; and X, keyed to the last letter of the animal’s name, corresponds to a fox and three pups. The final double-page spread shows all the featured creatures and their babies as the last line declares: “Baby, I love you from A to Z!” The verse is standard fare and appropriately sentimental. The art is cartoony-cute and populated by suitably loving critters on solid backgrounds. Hearts accent each scene, but the theme of the project is never in any doubt.
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, but the syrupy sweetness will cloy after the holiday. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7282-2095-6
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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