Delightfully celebrates the art of librarianship.
Stanley, hamster-of-all-trades, is back, this time in a book-loving occupation.
Stanley works in a typical brick-and-mortar library and also on the library’s bookmobile. He spends the morning loading up the van. (Bee’s droll humor is especially evident on the shelves: the “horror” section includes owls and cats—horrific to the rodent set. And of course there is an entire shelf dedicated to cheese.) Stanley drives around the town matching just-right books to readers. Benjamin, Sophie, and Betty are at the park. One borrows a “scary book.” Another borrows a “scary, hairy book.” And the last borrows a “scary, hairy, fairy book.” (Kids always have the trickiest requests—but librarians know just how to please them!) Hattie is working on her motorbike. She didn’t ask for a book, but Stanley found one that he knew she would love and put it aside for her—it’s The Big Book of Twisty Roads. After a busy day of connecting readers with books, the seemingly indefatigable Stanley heads back to the library for a special event. Agatha Mouse has a new book out and is doing a reading! Stanley goes home for his predictable dinner, bath, and bedtime routine—but is reading his book the entire time. Some might suck their teeth at the sight of Stanley in the tub with First Mouse in Space, but so sure and stable are Bee’s compositions that they should know not a drop will get on it.
Delightfully celebrates the art of librarianship. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-68263-313-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 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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