This sweet little board book sent me straight back to 1970 and my earliest memory of those gorgeous picture books featuring photographed characters in carefully staged scenery. I loved those books, and modern children will similarly appreciate this sweet little Giggle and Hoot adventure.
Hoot the Owl is circling town on his night watch, checking over sleepy vegetables and dimly lit houses, right on bedtime. As he cruises through the starry sky, children will appreciate the charming, dusky scenes, most especially the patchwork crab with its peg claws, peeking out of the ocean.
The visuals are the standout in this book. While the text is simple and sweet, it’s suffers from a lack of rhythm and most frustratingly rhymes, then doesn’t rhyme, then rhymes in variant rhythm. Had the publishers taken more time with the text, it would have taken this new series to a whole new level.
Nonetheless, kids won’t care. This book is so cute and the sentiment so sweet, they’ll probably be hooting for Hoot come bedtime, anyway.
Title: Hoot’s Lullaby
Author: Giggle and Hoot
Publisher: ABC Books, A$12.99RRP
Publication Date: 1 November 2010
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780733329333
For ages: 0 - 3
