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48 pp.
| Candlewick/minibombo
| January, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-9488-3$14.00
(3)
PS
A mouse spots a delicious-looking acorn in a tree. Shaking the tree produces a fox, who ogles the "scrumptious mouse." After the mouse climbs the tree, seeking safety, the fox shakes it, producing a hungry warthog, and so on. This book, designed to be read primarily from top to bottom instead of left to right, hasn't an expendable word, and the flat digital art no superfluous line.
32 pp.
| Candlewick
| April, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-9472-2$9.99
(3)
PS
Imported from Italy, these brightly colored picture books invite readers to rouse, play with, and finally soothe the digitally rendered pets: "Go on, give him a rub." The small trim size and cheerful tone bring to mind Chris Raschka's Thingy Things books; these appeal to the same toddler audience, who will likely enjoy interacting with the cartoony pets (despite their fleas and occasional bad behavior). Review covers these titles: The Cat Book and The Dog Book.
24 pp.
| Candlewick
| August, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-9037-3$14.00
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Lorenzo Clerici.
This lift-the-flap book begins mysteriously, with an illustration of six keys. Six watercolor spreads follow, each showing an animal hidden by a cage's closed door--so that's what the keys are for! This ingeniously simple book's only text is the repeated "thanks" from each freed animal until the reader opens a final, keyless seventh flap, freeing a (hungry) snake: "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
48 pp.
| Candlewick
| August, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-9039-7$14.00
(3)
PS
In Play, a cheerleader-like omniscient narrator encourages red triangles, yellow squares, and blue circles as they collaborate to make a castle, a train, etc. In Reshape, readers are encouraged to guess what animals various colorful rectangles will form, while also practicing counting from ten dragonflies down to one dragon. Clean, modern-looking digital layouts illustrate these enthusiastic introductions to shapes. Review covers these titles: Shapes at Play and Shapes, Reshape!
32 pp.
| Candlewick
| August, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-9038-0$14.00
(3)
PS
This lift-the-flap book begins mysteriously, with an illustration of six keys. Six watercolor spreads follow, each showing an animal hidden by a cage's closed door--so that's what the keys are for! This ingeniously simple book's only text is the repeated "thanks" from each freed animal until the reader opens a final, keyless seventh flap, freeing a (hungry) snake: "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
48 pp.
| Candlewick
| June, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-8783-0$14.00
(3)
PS
Two inventive wordless books explore concepts through visuals alone. Near features three-sequence spreads, zooming out and out and out to reveal entire creatures. Each spread in Now shows cartoony animals with big round eyes; turn the page and someone is missing (the eyes remain--a clue!), along with changes in background color and details. Spare digital illustrations in bright colors cheerily support the concepts. Review covers these titles: Near, Far and Now You See Me, Now You Don't.
24 pp.
| Candlewick
| June, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-8782-3$14.00
(3)
PS
Two inventive wordless books explore concepts through visuals alone. Near features three-sequence spreads, zooming out and out and out to reveal entire creatures. Each spread in Now shows cartoony animals with big round eyes; turn the page and someone is missing (the eyes remain--a clue!), along with changes in background color and details. Spare digital illustrations in bright colors cheerily support the concepts. Review covers these titles: Near, Far and Now You See Me, Now You Don't.
48 pp.
| Candlewick
| August, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-8106-7$14.00
(4)
PS
Clean pencil and digital illustrations, (almost) all black-and-white, showcase a simple story about a black cat who goes out during the day (and shows up against the stark white background) and a white cat who likes the night. They meet up by accident and introduce each other to their respective worlds. The thin plot is an excuse for the sharp graphic design.
48 pp.
| Candlewick
| August, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-8107-4$14.00
(3)
PS
Each time a boy begins to paint on the clean white pages of this well-designed book, an animal emerges: fish swim out of the blue paint, an elephant walks off the gray page, etc.; the boy keeps at it until a dog leaps into his arms. This simple, emotionally satisfying story is skillfully told without words and with blocky, childlike digital images.