Jean Jullien

This book is the best. Hoot owl is an adorably determined character who doesn't let their failures get them down (I'm deliberately using a gender-neutral pronoun because hoot owl's gender is unspecified and therefore open to any reader's interpretation!).

Also, it's one of those rare noir picture books (like [b:I Want My Hat Back|11233988|I Want My Hat Back|Jon Klassen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888784s/11233988.jpg|16160067] - read this if you don't see it). Hoot owl does a great show more noir-style narration throughout the book: "The shadowy night stretches away forever, as black as burnt toast," "I swoop through the bleak blackness like a wolf in the air." Slick af.

I also especially like kids books that don't sugarcoat the circle of life: "The lamb looks cuddly, but soon I will be eating it." Fair enough, hoot owl! Of course, our master-of-disguise is truly anything but, and their various (hilarious and adorable) costumes don't outwit their prey (so no animals are harmed in the reading of this book!)...until they start stalking a pizza. It is pepperoni. And it doesn't stand a chance against our crafty protagonist.

"I disappear into the dark enormousness of the night. I am gone. And the world can sleep again.
Until hoot owl returns." show less

I could have sworn I had read and even reviewed this, but apparently not, as I am sure I couldn't have forgotten something so funny.

Beware night creatures! Hoot Owl is hungry and he is a master of disguise. Watch out small rabbit, here comes Hoot Owl disguised as a....carrot! Darn. Oh well, there are plenty of tasty creatures and plenty of excellent disguises. After all, Hoot Owl is a master! Maybe?

The silly twist at the end will make readers laugh out loud as Hoot Owl finally finds the show more perfect disguise and the perfect prey (SPOILER: It's a pizza). The big, bold illustrations, with Hoot Owl's staring eyes and very, very serious face add to the hilarity of the goofy story with just an edge of danger.

Verdict: A perfect read for a storytime, especially with a large group. This will touch off discussions of what owls eat as well as screams of laughter. Read it in a spooky, super-dramatic voice and it will make a mildly scary read for preschoolers as well. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780763675783; Published 2014 by Candlewick; Borrowed from another library in my consortium show less

Hmm. This is a very different board book. As the title explains, it's not a book - each spread turns the book into something else through the clever use of illusion in the art.

As you turn the book in different directions it turns into different things. The first spread shows a wide mouth, complete with sharp teeth. The next spread turns the book into a computer screen. Then the book is a tennis court, then a refrigerator, a cozy chair for reading, and a butterfly. Then it's a naked show more bottom.

Um....yes, that's what it is. Ok, moving on.

A piano and music, children on a stage, a tool box, a high wire artiste, and the penultimate spread opens out to create a larger spread with the cat on the front page entering the house. The final spread shows hands that clap as you close the book.

This is unique and elegantly done and the concepts are interesting. It will make readers think about perspective and how it changes what you see. But does it work as a board book, for ages 0 to 2? I'd say no. While the art is interesting and the perspective unique, it would take an older child to fully appreciate the changing perspective and the illusions the book creates.

Verdict: Phaidon creates unique and interesting artistic experiments in their books. This one will certainly appeal to adults and older, more sophisticated children, but it misses my own library's audience for board books which is much younger and aimed at introducing infants and toddlers to the basics of conventional print.

ISBN: 9780714871127; Published 2016 by Phaidon; Borrowed from another library in my consortium show less

This book demonstrates the idea of before and after to children with pictures. Children can begin to understand the idea of transformation with the help of this book.

This book is very simple but I still found it be very cute and entertaining! I think the children will be guessing what the after picture looks like every time they see the "before" image. It is very entertaining for both adults and children.