Puppy’s enthusiasm and waggable tail hold high appeal for little readers.
Puppy finds Christmas presents under the tree for all of his friends as he searches to uncover his own.
Yoon gives life to Puppy, complete with a movable, wagging tail. Knowing that he has a gift under the Christmas tree, Puppy searches for his but finds only those for his animal friends. Onomatopoeic text on the bottom right corner of each page (“Squeak! Squeak!”; “Meow! Meow!”) foreshadow which animal’s gift Puppy finds on the next page. He persists with no luck until he hears the classic “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and discovers his gift—a bone. Puppy’s felt-covered tail protrudes over the pages at the top of the book (he hunches down under the tree throughout). It wags with the smooth left-to-right pull of a sturdy tab that is accessible from every page. Because of this, Puppy remains in the same position throughout the book, with his expressions changing to show his growing disappointment. The illustrations are in Yoon’s signature simple style of bold colors with a thick black outline, offering just the right amount of detail. There are labeled gift tags, tiny candy canes on wrapping paper, and spokes on the wheels of the train. While the story itself uses a familiar trope, it will certainly appeal to toddlers with its brisk pace and predictable pattern. The joy of making Puppy’s tail wag excitedly or slowly back and forth is sure to delight any young reader.
Puppy’s enthusiasm and waggable tail hold high appeal for little readers. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5344-4343-3
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
Great for a birthday read and enjoyable all year long.
A little one grabs a pair of shutter shades and gets a major groove on.
"Who loves to party?" The board book kicks off with this question, and each page follows with a different animal enjoying a wild time in increasingly silly ways. Lemurs hang streamers, pheasants wrap presents, and the mole rat wears his party hat. The titular baby makes a grand entrance on the second to last page, answering the original question and taking this party to a whole new level. The rhythmic, internally rhyming lines encourage a thumping beat for little ones to clap or stomp along with. Young readers will delight at all the animals and the funky colors, and adults will snicker at the contemporary quirks of the party. More board books should have parakeets dropping beats and ocelots that rock a lot. Electric colors and busy compositions make for an appropriately frenetic accompaniment.
Great for a birthday read and enjoyable all year long. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: May 5, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2994-8
Page Count: 30
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
A lovely, simple lift-the-flap book that will stand the test of many a mighty tot.
Little ones learn about bugs.
The world of insects and like small creatures is the focus of this sturdy board book. Each turn of the page gives readers a close view of a particular habitat. The text asks, “Where’s the ladybug?” or “Where’s the snail?” and little ones are encouraged to find the creatures under shaped felt flaps. A caterpillar poses under a leaf with a few bites taken out of it; a bumblebee flies behind a pink tulip. The flaps are made of a reasonably strong material, secured tightly within the book’s pages. Extremely determined readers may figure out a way to pull the flaps out, but most will enjoy flipping them up and over with ease. The last page of the book contains a mirror hidden behind a bush-shaped flap, and readers are asked “And where are you?” The insects smile with big eyes and are composed of large, circular, clean-edged shapes. The color palette is dulled, making the neon flaps pop effectively for little readers. Concurrently publishing companion Where’s the Giraffe? explores the world of jungle animals.
A lovely, simple lift-the-flap book that will stand the test of many a mighty tot. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: March 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9335-0
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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