Delightful pre-nap read-aloud fare.
When Cat agrees to play hide-and-seek with Kitten, he underestimates his relentless opponent.
It’s noon: time for drowsy Cat’s nap, but curious Kitten has other ideas and suggests they play hide-and-seek. Initially Cat hides high atop a bookcase, but Kitten finds him. Next, Cat hides low, under a bed. Again, Kitten finds him. Cat tries hiding in the dark basement, but he’s exposed when wily Kitten turns on the light. Everywhere (a box, a bag, a hammock, a flower pot, a flower garden, and more) Cat hides, Kitten always finds him—even when the younger feline just gives up and tries to take her own nap. The simple text relies on repetition to stress Cat’s futile plight, while bold illustrations use flat, bright colors, basic shapes, and definitive black outlines to amplify Kitten’s successful pursuit. Kitten’s wild, impish eyes and playful facial expressions provide a droll contrast to Cat’s disdainful demeanor and occasional wide-eyed shock. Wee listeners should revel in locating Cat’s hiding spots almost as much as they will relish finding a teeny, watchful mouse tucked into its own hiding places, where it safely and silently observes the oblivious felines engrossed in their game.
Delightful pre-nap read-aloud fare. (Picture book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 26, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-250-05458-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2015
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.
This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.
Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead.
An Easter-themed board-book parody of the traditional nursery rhyme.
Unfortunately, this effort is just as sugary and uninspired as The Itsy Bitsy Snowman, offered by the same pair in 2015. A cheerful white bunny hops through a pastel world to distribute candy and treats for Easter but spills his baskets. A hedgehog, fox, mouse, and various birds come to the bunny’s rescue, retrieving the candy, helping to devise a distribution plan, and hiding the eggs. Then magically, they all fly off in a hot air balloon as the little animals in the village emerge to find the treats. Without any apparent purpose, the type changes color to highlight some words. For very young children every word is new, so highlighting “tiny tail” or “friends” makes no sense. Although the text is meant to be sung, the words don't quite fit the rhythm of the original song. Moreover, there are not clear motions to accompany the text; without the fingerplay movements, this book has none of the satisfying verve of the traditional version.
Leave the hopping to Peter Cottontail and sing the original song instead. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-5621-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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