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PEEK AND SEEK

Name: PEEK AND SEEK
Author: Violet Peto
ISBN: 978-1-4654-6865-9

by Violet Peto ; illustrated by Charlotte Milner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 11, 2018

Fun as a peekaboo, but the language and natural history alike are both shoddy.

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Large fold-out flaps open to transform a set of seemingly empty scenes into landscapes teeming with wildlife.

Collective titles offer hints for each of the five spreads. The sky over a row of suburban houses fills with “A flock of birds” (identified in a key at the end as starlings) when the flap is lifted, an apparently deserted patch of woodland is suddenly home to “A pack of wolves,” and four other social species are likewise revealed on other spreads. Along with the highlighted animals, Milner adds assorted other creatures and items to her painted scenes for viewers to spot—the cutaway view of a rabbit warren is a positive archaeological treasure house of bones, broken pots, and ancient coins—and Peto strews factual snippets throughout, which are capped by a “factfile” at the close. As an early foray into the natural world, though, this has some issues. Not only are some of the fauna, such as a bear, a moose, deer, and a bald eagle in the wolf scene, left unidentified, but the collective of leaf-cutter ants are drawn with anthropomorphic eyes and wrongly dubbed an “army” rather than the more generally accepted “colony.” Moreover, an alternative term for “flock” of starlings, “murmuration,” is misspelled.

Fun as a peekaboo, but the language and natural history alike are both shoddy. (Informational novelty. 2-5)

Pub Date: Sept. 11, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-4654-6865-9

Page Count: 18

Publisher: DK Publishing

Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
COUNTING 1 2 3
by Violet Peto ; illustrated by Liza Lewis

- BOOK REVIEW
IS IT WARM ENOUGH FOR ICE CREAM?
by Violet Peto ; illustrated by Victoria Palastanga

- BOOK REVIEW
MY FIRST OUT AND ABOUT
by Violet Peto ; illustrated by Rachael Hare

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S HALLOWEEN

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016

Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK MAKES A FRIEND
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

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HAPPY EASTER, LITTLE POOKIE

From the Little Pookie series

by Sandra Boynton ; illustrated by Sandra Boynton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 31, 2023

An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character.

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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)