A perfect playdate, to read again and again.
A picture book with minimal text and maximum impact, as portrayed through both the well-chosen words and the fun-filled, evocative illustrations.
July 19, 2019
Toddler-PreS-A cheery, colorful story about a playdate for a tutu-wearing Dachshund and four preschoolers. The day begins with drop-off and then a walk to the playground. Then it's back inside for drawing, playing instruments, stories, and imagination games. The day ends with a hug and a wave goodbye. Pictures carry the story. Each page features just two words, rhyming with the subsequent word pair. Sometimes words are paired as opposites-high/low, happy/sad-while other pairs identify objects in the pictures-table/chairs, red/blue. Preschoolers will need more explanation than the scant text provides; the pictures will need to be studied and discussed for sufficient comprehension. For example, a lesson in sharing occurs as one girl offers another watermelon. On the same page, however, the dog steals a cookie. The accompanying text simply reads, "Good." and "Bad." Colorful, whimsical digital artwork uses soft-edged lines and translucent colors to convey a cozy, pleasant atmosphere. Minimal backgrounds focus attention on the subjects, causing the characters to pop out from the white page. Kids will easily see themselves in these characters' emotions and activities. VERDICT A fun, nonessential purchase.-Richelle Rose, Kenton County Public Library, KY
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2019
A series of simple rhyming words describes how, where, and with what ("Eyes. Nose. / Fingers. Toes") a cluster of babies and toddlers play together. Tidy vignettes depict adorable and (mostly) even-tempered children in action: �cf2]fast�cf1] shows them riding a spinning playground contraption; �cf2]slow�cf1] depicts them proceeding cautiously with their wheeled toys. What young reader wouldn't want to hitch a ride?
(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)