Not too scary, not too sweet—a pleasant-enough way to get the Halloween party started for older toddlers and young...
A cowboy, a pirate, a witch, Frankenstein’s monster, and a mummy count their way through a slightly scary board book.
Each creature they meet is introduced in a rhyming six-syllable couplet that starts with the spelled-out number but is also preceded by the numeral. The rhymes tell readers which character to count, but the busy spreads are geared to toddlers who’ve moved up from simpler books. Some creatures may also be hard for young children to identify. For instance, the ghosts floating against a dark blue background look like sleek clouds, or perhaps tadpoles, and the eight gargoyles look like a shadowy row of animals with vampire teeth. On that page, the most prominent image is of two smiling witches stirring a cauldron. The counting is interrupted between nine and 10 by a double-page spread of one black cat and one smiling jack-o-lantern with the verse, “Pumpkin-grin, / Goosebump-skin.” It’s fun, but it’s also potentially confusing for young children. Dark tones of purple, orange, and teal evoke the spirit of Halloween. Interspersed die-cut pages hint at the spooky scene to come with the next page turn. The ending is no surprise: “Ten small feet / Trick-or-Treat. / Door swings wide... / Kids inside! / Glad we dared. / We weren’t scared.” The pirate is the only primary character of color.
Not too scary, not too sweet—a pleasant-enough way to get the Halloween party started for older toddlers and young preschoolers . (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: June 26, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-338-04533-8
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 10, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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