Little ones and their adults will be drawn to this warm book.
A riff on the familiar nursery rhyme celebrates love and aspirations for a cherished child.
“Star light, star bright / star that lights my sky each night, / I wish you may, I wish you might/ Know wonder, magic, and delight.” Further verses celebrate the lure of adventure and the narrator’s pride and confidence in a child who is “strong and true,” “fun and helpful.” The speaker encourages the little one to “dazzle, sparkle, dance,” and “be brave enough to take a chance,” alternating praise with encouragement (“take the time to show you care,” “stand up strong for what is right”). The last wish is that the star “always shine with love and light.” The illustrations, in lushly romantic style and color unsubdued by the night setting, pair an adult animal with its young, first a pair of giraffes in a savanna as the sun sets, a fox and kit in an evening woodland, zebras in the evening savanna, beavers by a stream, penguins in a rocky Antarctic beneath the southern aurora, chipmunks in a tree bole, belugas in the sea, a male lion with cub riding on his back, two bats against a full moon, and more. On each page, the indigo skies feature a bright large-and-small star-pair. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Little ones and their adults will be drawn to this warm book. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781728251486
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2023
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
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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