An adorable evocation of the minor struggles and major charms of toddler nap time.
Will Cat finally succumb to sleep?
A fluffy striped orange tabby kitten, its eyes at half-mast, clutches a tiny blue teddy and a soft blanket whose fish print is matched by the book’s endpapers. Other essentials—including a sippy cup with milk—are at hand, but Cat has so many enticing soft toys. Wouldn’t a pretend picnic be a great idea, complete with milk? “Not playtime, Cat,” scolds the unseen narrator. “Nap time!” Cat decides the picnic blanket would make a great cape and perches, paw outstretched, on the upended toy box. “No! Not Super Cat. Nap, Cat!” shouts the narrator. “Oh dear.” That box wasn’t properly balanced: “Splat!” “Poor Cat.” Later, the narrator asks, “Cuddle, Cat?” The kitten beds down in a cozy old-fashioned white-painted wood cot on rockers, with a cut-out heart; it’s big enough for all the stuffies, blanket, and Cat. Checklist: “Toothbrush, Cat.” “Pillow, Cat.” “Night light, Cat.” Tucked in, Cat's eyes are wide: What has been forgotten now? Oh, it’s bow tie–sporting teddy, who’s fallen on the floor, and with a kiss and another cuddle, Cat is ready for “sweet dreams.” Cat stands upright, making a solid rectangle of cloudlike kitten fur, but the expressive ears, eyes, and mouth are all feline. Bright colors make essential details (like the rug and mobile) pop, and the handling is sure. Cat is irresistible.
An adorable evocation of the minor struggles and major charms of toddler nap time. (Picture book. 0-4)Pub Date: March 18, 2025
ISBN: 9781250392220
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The greeting-card art and jokey rhymes work for the baby-shower market but not for the youngest readers.
Animal parents declare their love for their offspring through rhymed puns and sentimental art.
The title sets the scene for what’s to come: The owl asks the owlet as they fly together, “WHOO loves you?”; the kangaroo and joey make each other “very HOPPY”; and the lioness and cub are a “PURRRFECT pair.” Most of the puns are both unimaginative and groanworthy, and they are likely to go over the heads of toddlers, who are not know for their wordplay abilities. The text is set in abcb quatrains split over two double-page spreads. On each spread, one couplet appears on the verso within a lightly decorated border on pastel pages. On the recto, a full-bleed portrait of the animal and baby appears in softly colored and cozy images. Hearts are prominent on every page, floating between the parent and baby as if it is necessary to show the love between each pair. Although these critters are depicted in mistily conceived natural habitats and are unclothed, they are human stand-ins through and through.
The greeting-card art and jokey rhymes work for the baby-shower market but not for the youngest readers. (Board book. 6 mos-2)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7282-1374-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
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BOOK REVIEW
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