FICTION

Little Bitty Friends

by Elizabeth MCPIKE
illus. by Patrice Barton. 32p. Putnam. Feb. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780399172557.
COPY ISBN
PreS—McPike's gentle rhymes describe very young children interacting with nature. The adorable babies and toddlers are shown observing, mimicking, and/or tenderly handling a furry caterpillar, buttercups, a baby bird, and a bitty snail. The repetitive words and sweet images capture this enchanted world of discovery. "Little bitty chipmunks,/chattering all the day,/Little bitty ladybug/always comes to play." The rounded, soft-focus mixed-media illustrations complement the text well, showing a diverse cast of characters. The book concludes with a napping boy curled up with a puppy and a giant hug from Dad.
VERDICT A terrific choice to encourage children (and their hovering adults) to discover the wonders of the world around them.
Reviewed by Paula Huddy, The Blake School-Highcroft Campus, Wayzata, MN
Happy, curious toddlers of different races revel in the wonder of the natural world as they experience little creatures, a willow tree, buttercups, etc. The warm, inviting artwork (pencil sketches painted digitally); the skillful use of white space; and the thoughtful placement of the gentle rhyming couplets result in a visually inviting book that would make a great addition to toddler storytime.
 , Jan 01, 2016

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