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64 pp.
| Kane Miller
| September, 2021
|
TradeISBN 978-1-68464-299-1$14.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Manu Montoya.
"There's no cow on the ice" (ie there's no rush) perusing this global survey of twenty-nine idioms, a companion book to Edwards's What a Wonderful Word. American readers will enjoy the introduction to some new turns of phrase (including the giggle-inducing Icelandic "peeing in your shoes will only keep you warm for a short while" and the evocative Japanese "not seeing is a flower") and may be equally intrigued to learn about possible origins for phrases like "to cost an arm and a leg" and "to butter someone up." Whether readers are eager to learn about other cultures (including the phonetic pronunciation of each phrase in its original language) or to take a closer look at phrases they may have always taken for granted, there's plenty of food for thought here. Welcoming illustrations add to the fun.
(3)
4-6
Fact Finders: Why Do We Say That? series.
Beginning with a general overview of its topic, each text delves into the history and currently active changes of American English. They also go into some finer points, such as the use of emojis as idioms and the evolution of "thee/thou" to "you." "Try it out!" sections encourage active engagement with functions of language. Stock photographs and some charts adorn the pages. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: Why Do We Say That? titles: What Is an Idiom When It's at Home? and Me, Myself, and I.
40 pp.
| Disney/Hyperion
| September, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4847-2837-6$16.99
(4)
K-3
Walt Disney Animation Studios Artist Showcase series.
Adages employing the word breath offer inspiration as a boy tries to catch his breath (peering into his dog's mouth for dog breath, wanting to buy babies' breath at a hospital nursery, etc.). It's a cute idea that's not quite substantive enough to fill out a picture book. The mainly black-and-white digital art appears with color accents, foregrounding the smiling balloon-like blobs of breath throughout.
(3)
K-3
Translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick.
After a man accuses a boy (presumably his son) of crying crocodile tears, the boy wants the phrase unpacked. The man's amusingly roundabout explanation, featuring modest little scenes that could belong in the Nutshell Library, begins with instructions for catching a crocodile: one needs "a LONG WOODEN BOX" (pointedly conjured by the horizontal book's long, narrow shape) and "a boat bound for Egypt."
32 pp.
| Chronicle
| October, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4521-5134-2$15.99
(4)
K-3
On each spread, a dog-related idiom, simile, or metaphor appears in an elegant, bold font alongside a photograph of a canine, alternately goofy or earnest, enacting the expression. Unfortunately, the poses (e.g., a Great Dane drinking from the toilet for "dirty dog") do little to cue meaning. Dog lovers may forgive that the appendix identifies the dogs instead of explaining the phrases.
48 pp.
| Holiday
| March, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8234-2135-0$18.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Eric Brace.
A brief explanation of idioms, metaphors, similes, and proverbs introduces fifteen sections starting at the top of the body ("Heads Up!") and ending at the feet. Each section explores a theme (parade, circus, zoo) and is loaded with comical characters enacting the saying literally (e.g., a strongman pulls a wagon of teeth: "It's like pulling teeth!"). Lots to look at and laugh about. Ind.
135 pp.
| Clarion
| August, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-544-05680-0$16.99
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
Paul Meisel.
Richie tries to act welcoming to French classmate Sophie during Mind Your Manners Week, but minor misunderstandings become more and more confusing due to English and French idioms. The silly, small-stakes story, illustrated with Meisel's light pencil sketches, should be manageable for independent chapter-book readers, who may learn a few new expressions along the way.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Tim Bowers.
Stu loves the chorus of sounds he hears emanating nightly from the zoo. When a developer threatens to tear it down, Stu conducts an emergency plan to save it: a concert performed by the zoo's residents. Expressive paintings outshine the text, which is a vehicle for a stream of idioms that do little to enhance the story. An "understanding idioms" guide is appended.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| October, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8163-1$26.60
(4)
4-6
It's Just an Expression series.
Illustrated by
Aaron Blecha.
Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| October, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-7891-4$26.60
(4)
4-6
It's Just an Expression series.
Illustrated by
Aaron Blecha.
Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| October, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-7887-7$26.60
(4)
4-6
It's Just an Expression series.
Illustrated by
Aaron Blecha.
Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| October, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-7890-7$26.60
(4)
4-6
It's Just an Expression series.
Illustrated by
Aaron Blecha.
Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| October, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-7889-1$26.60
(4)
4-6
It's Just an Expression series.
Illustrated by
Aaron Blecha.
Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| October, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-7888-4$26.60
(4)
4-6
It's Just an Expression series.
Illustrated by
Aaron Blecha.
Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| October, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8164-8$26.60
(4)
4-6
It's Just an Expression series.
Illustrated by
Aaron Blecha.
Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| October, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-7892-1$26.60
(4)
4-6
It's Just an Expression series.
Illustrated by
Aaron Blecha.
Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.
32 pp.
| Sterling
| October, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4027-7131-6$12.95
(4)
K-3
In this story, about a boy's fear that Santa Claus will be deterred by a snowstorm, each page spotlights one idiom (he helped his sister "trim the tree..." / "...and deck the halls"). Cursory sketchlike illustrations of people commingle with what appear to be color photos reflecting each idiom's literal meaning. There's some fun to be had, but Peggy Parish handled the conceit better.
32 pp.
| Sterling
| November, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4027-7130-9$12.95
(4)
K-3
Bloch uses over two dozen food-related expressions in this entertaining, if contrived, story about a boy who learns to be a more adventurous eater. ("My mother says it drives her bananas to see me eat like a bird.") Cleverly combining photographs with pen-and-ink drawings, the quirky art provides a comically literal illustration for each figure of speech.
32 pp.
| Kids Can
| August, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55453-308-4$18.95
(3)
K-3
In this entertaining book, Edwards presents a gallery of elaborate animal paintings with sly one-sentence captions. Each picture offers a humorously literal interpretation of idioms such as "cool your heels," "hold your tongue," or "frog in your throat." As a bonus, readers can enjoy searching for the cat hidden in every mixed-media illustration. Explanations of the twenty-six expressions are appended.
32 pp.
| Sterling
| August, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4027-4158-6$12.95
(4)
K-3
A boy faces his fears, expressed as figures of speech, on his first day of school. Though the language conceit doesn't work seamlessly, clear presentation will help readers see the humor of having a "long face" or being "all ears," as captured in tableaux of simple pen-and-ink line illustrations and color photographs.