Mary Had a Little Lamb: A Colors Book

by Jarvis, Jarvis (Illustrator)

Overview

Mary’s woolly friend is joined by a colorful (and noisy) entourage in a funny first concept board book by the inimitable Jarvis.

Everyone knows that Mary had a little companion, with fleece as white as snow. Baaa! But did you know that an orange tiger trailed them? Raar! And a pink dancing hippo, too? Fa-la-la-la-la! And who is that red fellow swinging on a vine, or those blue bears blowing on horns? With a bright array of colors and a cacophony of sound words, this cumulative twist on a classic rhyme will have children clamoring to follow along.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536211115
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Pages:	22
Sales rank:	1,101,149
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 6.80(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Jarvis is an illustrator and animator who has worked as both a record jacket designer and an animation director. He is the author-illustrator of the companion board book This Little Piggy as well as Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth; Mrs. Mole, I’m Home!; and Tropical Terry. He lives in England.

Editorial Reviews

The bright digital illustrations in both books will capture readers’ attention and they will enjoy pointing out the silly details, such as a roller-skating giraffe. This book board duo is a great addition to collections everywhere.
—School Library Journal Online

This fresh take on the traditional nursery rhyme aims to teach colors to toddlers. Childlike illustrations with chalked backgrounds provide clues to the action and give little learners much to talk about.
—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

09/06/2019

Toddler-PreS-Everyone knows that Mary had a little white lamb, but in this concept book she also has an orange tiger, a pink hippo, a red monkey, blue bears, and a yellow giraffe. In this delightful board book, colors are explored using the familiar rhyme. Young toddlers will enjoy shouting out the colors, while preschoolers will enjoy the silly humor of the entourage of animals following Mary. Counting is introduced in jaunty rhymes in This Little Piggy, e.g., "Seven little piggies/danced for hours. Eight little piggies/had awesome superpowers." The bright digital illustrations in both books will capture readers' attention and they will enjoy pointing out the silly details, such as a roller-skating giraffe. VERDICT This book board duo is a great addition to collections everywhere.-Brooke Newberry, Winding Rivers Library System, West Salem, WI

School Library Journal

2019-11-24
This fresh take on the traditional nursery rhyme aims to teach colors to toddlers.

Childlike illustrations with chalked backgrounds provide clues to the action and give little learners much to talk about. The first spread presents a spare winter scene with a cartoon sheep following a backpack-clad Mary, presumably on the way to school, presented in profile. The child seems to be looking back at the sheep. The sheep's only line is "Baaa!" On the next spread, the sheep gives the side-eye to an orange tiger that exclaims, "Raar! Raaar! Raaaar!" while Mary marches confidently on. This pattern continues for a pink hippo, a red monkey, three blue bears, a purple mouse, a green crocodile, and a yellow giraffe. Each animal comes with their own vocalization or sound effect. The spreads grow more and more crowded and raucous until finally they all board a double-decker bus. (Mary is driving.) The text reads, "Now everywhere that Mary went, this colorful crew was there." Surprise, they're going to the park. "For Mary had packed the very best lunch… / just big enough to share." There's no telling how this feast—cake, an enormous submarine sandwich, hot dogs, drinks with swirly straws, fruit, doughnuts, even a piece of cheese for the mouse—ever fit in that one backpack, but that's all of a piece with the overall whimsy. Companion title This Little Piggy takes on the numbers from one to 10.

Engaging fun with a well-disguised bonus lesson on colors. (Board book. 2-4)

Kirkus Reviews