Though there’s not much new here, this is an enjoyable tale about finding friends.
Can two be too many? Too few? Or just right?
A young shrew playing alone on the beach decides one isn’t fun and seeks companionship, but an elephant sitting nearby points out it doesn’t need to be in a twosome, citing the activities—sailing, surfing, and singing—it enjoys doing solo. The shrew, however, demonstrates why two’s more fun. Before long, an otter appears on the scene, explaining that its presence now makes them a group of three and opining that number’s even better. Adults reading this to kids won’t be surprised when yet another animal, this one an alligator, shows up, adding up to a total of four beachgoers. The shrew, depicted as small and unprepossessing, still maintains the superiority of two and eventually meets a bird that’s in total agreement; at the end, the pair contentedly build sand castles together. This sweet, lighthearted story, expressed in lilting rhyme conveyed entirely in dialogue bubbles, reassures quieter youngsters who might feel overwhelmed with too many people around them that their preference for a twosome is OK. It also permits very young kids to practice some basic counting skills. The lively pencil-and-ink illustrations give winsome expressions and personalities to the main animal characters; various animals feature throughout as background frolickers enjoying a day at the beach. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 40.3% of actual size.)
Though there’s not much new here, this is an enjoyable tale about finding friends. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-984812-91-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
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
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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
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