There are better offerings on the back-to-school shelf for easing those new to school into the routine; skip this one.
Blackstone’s Bear and pals introduce children to a typical school day.
Adorable bears, all of different hues and accessorized for differentiation, wave goodbye to their grown-ups and start their day: “The school bell rings and the bears go inside. / They hang up their coats and their school bags with pride.” Music and math are the first subjects the bears tackle, then they have a snack: some sort of orange drink and a “bun”—what appear to be frosted doughnuts with cherries on top. Literacy and lunchtime are next, followed by naps and recess. A craft project and storytime round out the day before dismissal. Blackstone’s rhymes are sometimes rough—sums/bun, prepared/bears, rest/stretch, follow/tomorrow—which is a shame in a book that emphasizes emergent-literacy skills, but the scansion is spot-on. The final spread asks readers to show the “new bear” around on a map of the school drawn from above. The bears’ school unrealistically comprises five rooms: a single classroom, a hall for meals, a room for naps, and two rooms the bears don’t visit—a bathroom and an office. Harter’s paint, pen-and-ink, and crayon illustrations feature bright colors and solid backgrounds so readers can focus on what the bears are doing at school, though their facial expressions are rather one-note.
There are better offerings on the back-to-school shelf for easing those new to school into the routine; skip this one. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-78285-085-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character.
Pookie celebrates Easter with a play date and holiday activities.
Pookie’s friend Bean, a gray puppy, comes over for Easter fun that includes lots of bouncing around and egg decorating. After Bean goes home, Pookie gets excited about the Easter Bunny’s arrival and goes to sleep dreaming of a large chocolate egg. Like the other Pookie books before it, this one is told in rhyme from the perspective of a loving grown-up addressing the little pig, which keeps the pace moving and makes for a great read-aloud. Bean and Pookie are realistically—and endearingly—childlike, from Pookie’s pronunciation of yellow as “lellow!” to the joyful mess they make while decorating eggs. There are plenty of sweet and festive touches, such as the bunny ears that Bean and Pookie (and Pookie’s teddy) wear and the daffodils painted on the end of Pookie’s bed. The illustrations include large, full-page images as well as smaller vignettes against solid backgrounds. One page shows Pookie and parent looking out the window at the moon, anticipating Easter’s spoils. For fans of Boynton and little Pookie, this Easter tale is exactly as expected: a touch of playfulness, a relatable story, and comfort in the familiar. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-66592-838-0
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Boynton Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
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