Dinosaurs get together to count legs, arms, wings, spikes, and more.
The rhymed tally starts off with a young dino named Rodrigo (properly identified, in the closing fact roundup, as an ankylosaurus) with “one tail he liked to swing for fun!” Along comes Sue (a T. Rex) with two arms and two pairs of claws, Stan (a triceratops) with three horns, and so on up to 10 little hatchlings of diverse species. In her prehistoric scenes Bianda depicts dinosaurs, early reptiles, and even a set of contemporaneous opossumlike mammals (and bumblebees flying into a wasps’ nest) in bright monochrome hues, with googly eyes and (for all the scales, horns, and toothy smiles on display) distinctly toddlerish looks. She also places large numerals in strategic spots and tucks in seed cones, ferns, comets, and other prehistoric items for more counting opportunities. Dinosaur counting exercises are far from an extinct or even endangered picture-book species but this is a particularly lively specimen, and aside from a few artistic liberties, the author and illustrator both take care to keep their dino facts straight.
Definitely has a preschooler’s number. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-8075-1281-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: June 25, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018
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Tiny T. Rex shares the top six tricks of treating for those wanting to become Halloween Treat-masters.
“The very best part of Halloween is the Treats,” the book opens. “It is a mathematically proven fact.” From there, Tiny T. Rex and pal Pointy, who declare themselves masters of treating, share their tricks, which range from what to wear (with a caveat to avoid wearing multiple costumes at once) to being sure to express “thank you” (even frightful creatures have manners, after all) to the “greatest trick” of all—sharing treats. Stutzman’s play on trick-or-treating, coupled with original words like Nom-bies and Crawly-creeps, give this board book a refreshingly original take on familiar Halloween themes. Fleck’s illustrations depict the dinos as endearing and playful. Tiny T. Rex has two pointy, nonintimidating teeth and a diminutive stature, and Pointy’s ever so pointy back plates are incorporated into its costume as a unicorn with a rainbow-colored tail. And who can resist a dinosaur wearing “mitties” over its hands? The brightly colored illustrations are visually appealing, and the details give readers plenty to observe. From showing gratitude for a cucumber “treat” handed out from a basket of veggies to sharing their haul with a homebound friend, these dinosaurs are adorable in more ways than one.
Sweet and practical holiday advice delivered by two darling dinos. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4521-8490-6
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2021
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The latest addition to the World of Eric Carle is proof that the Wilder Award–winning picture-book creator knows what appeals to children.
This board book is both developmentally appropriate and aesthetically pleasing—perfect for toddlers. In a sturdy, oversize (10 1/2 inches square) format, Carle recycles iconic images from his vast canon to introduce shapes, colors, numbers, animals, and sounds. The flower on the cover is almost (but not quite) identical to the flower that grows from The Tiny Seed (1970). Seeing the animals throughout the pages is like recognizing old friends. But Carle and the book’s designer, Hannah Frece, put these familiar images to fresh uses to create a logical, accessible, and harmonious concept book. Although billed as a “busy book,” it is not hyperactive, using just five or six images per spread. From the mirror that lights up the sun on the cover to the touch-and-feel inserts on the page about animals to the single flap that hides a mouse from a cat, the tactile elements have been chosen with intention instead of just as gimmicks. On other pages, foils and textures are subtle, with many barely raised images that invite tracing.
A satisfying package that will indeed keep toddlers busy—exemplary. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Dec. 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4814-5791-0
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
Categories: CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS
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