Arctic Animals
Inhabit Media (IPG, dist.), $10.95 (16p) ISBN 978-1-9270-9585-0
In this bilingual board book, readers learn the English
and Inuktitut names for eight animals that call the Arctic
home, including a ptarmigan, wolf, caribou, and bearded
seal. The names appear in Inuktitut syllabics, orthographic
translations (so non-Inuktitut readers can sound out the
words), and English. It’s a useful tool, but the book’s
design isn’t its strong suit. On the left-hand pages, photographs show each animal in its Arctic environs; the same
image of the animal also appears at right, roughly cut out
of its environment and dropped, inelegantly and repetitively, on a solid-colored backdrop above its name.
Available simultaneously: Marine Mammals and Inuit Tools.
Up to age 3. (July)
Deep Deep Sea
Frann Preston-Gannon. Pavilion (IPG/Trafalgar Sq., dist.), $7.99
(14p) ISBN 978-1-84365-268-7
Preston-Gannon uses sea creatures to help readers get a
jump on numbers in this quick dive into the briny deep.
“One blue whale” gets things started, gliding underneath a
comparatively small sailboat. Green turtles, gray dolphins,
yellow seahorses, and red starfish follow (offering children a
reminder of basic colors, as well), and the final spread offers a
real colors-and-counting challenge as “one hundred colourful
fish” fill appear against a mottled blue-green backdrop. A
muted palette and the subtle Mona Lisa–like smiles of
Preston-Gannon’s sea creatures give the book a serene calmness, creating a kind of aquatic Peaceable Kingdom. Up to
age 3. (July)
★ Jane Foster’s 123
Jane Foster. Bonnier/Little Bee (S&S, dist.), $5.99 (26p) ISBN 978-1-
4998-0073-9
British artist and textile designer Foster takes readers from
one to 10 in this showcase for her bold, playful illustrations.
Polka-dots, checks, and stripes mingle
with ’50s-era starbursts and a hint of
’70s psychedelia as Foster moves from
“ 1 friendly fox” (an image Foster’s
existing fans will recognize from her
line of stuffed toys) to “ 4 happy dogs”
stacked one atop the next and 10
skinny ichthus-shaped fish. The penultimate spread gathers
all of the items into neat rows for comparison, while a rocket-themed kicker offers a fun countdown to “blast off!” It’s a
book that style-minded parents and kids can appreciate
equally. Simultaneously available: Jane Foster’s ABC. Up to
age 3. (July)
On the Go
Tad Carpenter. Sterling, $7.95 (16p) ISBN 978-1-4549-1225-5
Carpenter kicks off the Who’s That? series, asking readers
to identify the pilots of six vehicles. In addition to learning
about these drivers, children will pick up several verbs:
“Who’s that?” Carpenter asks. “She sails on water, cruises
under the stars, and drops anchor to stop.” Lifting a large flap
(shaped like a rocky outcropping with two seals on top)
reveals the captain standing proudly on the deck of her sailboat. Dominated by greens, golds, and purples, Carpenter’s
cartoons give off a spiffy retro vibe. As readers meet a bicycle
rider, race-car driver, and others, an array of pedestrians,
motorists, and animals create additional diversions. Up to
age 3. (June)
Peek-a-Boo Zoo
Joyce Wan. Scholastic/Cartwheel, $6.99 (14p) ISBN 978-0-545-
75042-4
Flaps turn downward to reveal the faces of seven zoo animals in this winsome board book. Working in her characteristic aesthetic of rounded, chunky shapes, Wan assembles a
cute-as-can-be cast that includes a penguin, hippo, and more.
(Tiny upside-down hearts appear in the ears of a bear, lion,
and tiger—no scary predators in this bunch.) Brief rhymes
provide clues about each animal’s identity (“I swing from the
vines/ and play in the trees./ I have a long tail/ and hang by
my knees”). A fun addition to the book-as-game category. Up
to age 3. Agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency. (June)
Nap-a-Roo
Kristy Kurjan, illus. by Tyler Parker. KPO Creative LLC ( kpocreative.com),
$7.95 (16p) ISBN 978-0-9860750-0-1
“It’s time for a nap-a-roo,/ just like the kangaroo,” begins
this nap-encouraging board book from first-time author
Kurjan, which is built around rhymes with a long “oo”
sound. Readers learn that the kangaroo in question—who
wears a striped neckerchief and carries a purple stuffed animal
in its pouch—“lives in the zoo.../ In Timbuktu.../ With a dog
named Lou” and other animals. While the rhymes aren’t
especially imaginative, Parker’s cheery and polished digital
cartoons show real talent, and the book maintains a sense of
fun (including a “Coo Coo Ka Choo” dance break) from start
to finish. Up to age 3. (BookLife)
Bathtime for Chickies
Janee Trasler. Harper, $8.99 (24p) ISBN 978-0-06-234229-4
In their fifth outing, Trasler’s chickies take not one but
three baths—after getting “squeaky clean” they promptly get
dirty once again. Painted as yellow balls of energy with fluffy
wings and stick legs, the chickies refuse every attempt to get
Now Boarding ▲
Board books just right for picnics, trips to the beach, and other summer fun.
