Patrick Hruby

[This review has been edited and republished]

I saw the cover of this board book at ALA and it really grabbed my eye, but the book itself was disappointing. The idea of bright colors and geometric shapes was good, but the execution of the design is too complicated for a board book for small children. It gets very crowded and some of the more abstract shapes are hard to identify as the various plants and other garden things.

The book is a thick square, 9x9 inches, and has a lot of thick pages - it weighs almost a pound! I am a little doubtful about the binding of such a thick book holding up as well. It's from a small publisher and is more spendy than the average board book - about $10.

Verdict: I would have been more likely to purchase this as a concept book for preschool age kids, and when I did a little searching it looks like it is actually available as a hardcover, but as a board book it misses the mark. Toddlers and babies might enjoy the bright colors and geometrical shapes, but they are likely to have trouble identifying the objects and the weight of the board book is an issue, while the cost is more than most libraries will spend on a board book.

ISBN: 9781623260057; Published 2013 by Ammo; Borrowed from another library in my consortium… (més)

Every child needs to learn their ABC’s and what better way than a day at the circus. Patrick Hruby has captured the essence of a day at the circus in his book ABC is for Circus. There is a lion, a tiger and a big top (sorry, no bear). Jugglers juggle, snake charmers charm and a ringmaster direct it all.

The book is made of thick cardboard that should withstand teethers and biters alike. It will open nearly flat and the pages are easy to turn. This is a substantial version of an ABC book that any child would love. The pages are thicker for little fingers to grab and the book is easy to hold while reading or showing a child.

The illustrations, also done by Mr. Hruby, are colorful and filled with shapes your child will enjoy and could learn to identify along with the alphabet. Bright yellow, red and blue and green highlight most of the illustrations. Some have a black silhouetted scenes, which helps the colors jumps off the page.This well-done, well-constructed, hardy book will last well past learning the ABC’s.

Note: received from net galley, courtesy of the publisher… (més)