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THINGS I LOVE ABOUT BEDTIME

Though very affectionate, this drift into slumber hops heavily

A bunny exults in the joys of bedtime one yawn at a time.

Both parents assist their little rabbit through the nightly ritual until their child's words turn to zzz's. Mom playfully chases her bunny into bed; Dad gets syrupy after the story: “Of all the millions and squillions of little bunnies around the world, how did I get so lucky to have the best one?” The bunny's reflections on his day's activities shift to dramatic, imaginative dreams; the youngster rides bees toward the moon and sails aboard a makeshift pirate ship on a sea made of raspberry jelly and teeming with goldfish. The padded cover encloses gentle spreads that idealize this loving family; the bunnies' fuzzy outlines keep the adorable level at an all-time high. The young narrator addresses his audience in a self-conscious, adult-sounding voice. “Remembering my best moments makes me feel good about being me!” As behavior modeling, this celebration excels; as a depiction of childhood, it leaves a little to be desired.

Though very affectionate, this drift into slumber hops heavily . (Board book. 3-4)

Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-545-29016-6

Page Count: 16

Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012

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PEPPA PIG AND THE PERFECT DAY

From the Peppa Pig series

More kit than story, with some assembly required.

Two outings and a game of hide-and-seek in between add up to a perfect day for Peppa and friends in this four-spread TV-series spinoff.

First Peppa and her bubble-gum–pink family ride to the park (“Vroom!” says little George) for a healthy picnic packed by Daddy Pig. Then it’s home for playtime with Danny Dog and Suzy Sheep, until Grandpa Pig arrives with a boat big enough for all (“Ship ahoy!”). Children can embellish this stripped-down plotline on the foldout playscape attached to the back cover. All of the figures in the flat, very simple illustrations also come as punch-outs on a loose sheet, and there are corresponding slots in the detachable pop-up car and boat. Fans of the British series, which runs on Nick Jr. in the United States, may experience several moments of pleasure before the card-stock vehicles are crushed.

More kit than story, with some assembly required. (sticker sheet) (Pop-up/picture book. 3-4)

Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-7636-6825-9

Page Count: 8

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2013

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MAMA'S LITTLE DUCKLINGS

From the Play-Doh series

For lift-the-flap done right, skip this one and choose Lucy Cousins’ Maisy’s Big Flap Book (2001) or one of Karen Katz’s...

A chunky lift-the-flap board book about a little lost duckling reunited with its family.

Mama Duck has lost her littlest egg. The ladybugs haven’t seen it. Neither have the fish. The Easter Bunny, however, knows exactly where to look. After the family is reunited, they all go home for a good night’s rest. The text incorporates a lift-the-flap feature, but there does not seem to be much rhyme or reason behind this choice. Seemingly random parts of the text and illustrations are hidden under flaps, with the only rhetorically effective spread being the one featuring the flap that turns out to be hiding the little duck. The illustrations incorporate animals made of Play-Doh, lending them a distinct Claymation quality. They are very colorful but so busy as to appear crowded. Little ones might enjoy looking for the yellow eggshell containing the missing duckling on several of the pages if they are not too distracted by the unnecessary flaps.

For lift-the-flap done right, skip this one and choose Lucy Cousins’ Maisy’s Big Flap Book (2001) or one of Karen Katz’s delightful outings, such as Where Is Baby’s Yummy Tummy? (2011) or Where Is Baby’s Puppy? (2011). (Board book. 3-4)

Pub Date: March 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-60710-771-2

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Silver Dolphin

Review Posted Online: May 22, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013

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