School Library Journal Review
PreS-Butler suggests the various responses that children might have when they see different animals. The brief text is comprised of lines such as "If you see a cuddly kitten- say, `Ahhh!'" and, "If you see a pudgy pig- say, `Peee-ew!'" Although words are minimal, the illustrations, primarily in gold and brown tones across glossy spreads, are irresistible. This title will have particular appeal for toddlers.-Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Butler (Hush, Little Ones) invites youngsters to revel in their reactions to 10 splendidly rendered portraits of baby animals and insects. "If you see a cuddly kitten.../ say, `Ahhh!'/ If you see a pudgy pig.../ say, `Peee-ew!' " Each introduction includes a visual clue: on the spread showing the plump, playful kitten, the piglet's curly tail (and the muck it has rolled in) can be seen in the lower right-hand corner of the spread (actually, with its poignant expression, the piglet is every bit as "ahhh"-worthy as the cat). Realistic scale is not a concern of Butler's-a tightly furled dormouse occupies as much of the creamy white space as a spider or porcupine. But the level of detail is another matter: with painterly aplomb, Butler painstakingly delineates the fur on the abdomen of a spider and makes the sliminess of a slug's corrugated body seem almost palpable (the "Yuck!" the slug elicits seems entirely merited). Children, especially those on the younger end of the target audience, will likely embrace this handsome book's exhortations right up to the end, when a "crabby crocodile" with very big jaws demands only one response: "HELP!" Ages 2-6. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
