A story that, once read, readers may forgetolotl.
A community of anthropomorphized axolotls play and work during the course of a day.
Alarm clocks go off, and in their underwater home, axolotls of various types begin their days. On each double-spread page, rhyming couplets and spot art (with some full-bleed spreads scattered in between) work together to capture the daily—and very humanlike—activities of the aquatic salamanders, all of whom have portmanteau names. Flexolotl begins the day by lifting weights; Paxolotl packs a school bag with books; Zodiaxolotl consults a horoscope chart, and so on. But life is not all drudge and routine in their watery realm. We see Tuxolotl, “dressed up to the gills” in a tuxedo for a fancy occasion, and DJ Maxxolotl spinning music tables in a club, while other axolotls are “packing out the concert halls / with salamander song.” At day’s end, Soaxolotl takes a bath, Booxolotl reads, and, finally, the entire community settles in “to catch some ZZZs.” The book’s title could mislead readers who expect an abecedarian narrative. Some of the portmanteaus may confuse children: “Spandexolotl” exercises, but young readers may not make the spandex-workout connection, and Waxolotl waxes its legs, a practice that many children will be unfamiliar with. The goofy, over-the-top artwork rendered in an obtrusively bright palette and the dull, overly singsong rhymes leave little to readers’ imaginations.
A story that, once read, readers may forgetolotl. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64170-644-5
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Familius
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
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
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Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.
You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!
What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0534-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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