Review by Booklist Review
The wild kingdom is downright tame in this picture book that's highly suitable for bedtime. Saunders' picture-book debut follows a young badger and his father as they spend a night talking about and dispelling the young one's fears. Holding hands as they walk through the forest, Papa Badger provides reasons to enjoy the night: the colors like blue, purple, and silver that one can see within the darkness; the stars that twinkle, including the North Star, whic. will always guide you back home ; and the shooting stars, which can help grant your wishes. It's a comforting vision that veteran illustrator Kolanovic fills with warm color, sparkling light, and furry animals. (A bear peeks out from behind a tree, and a bat spreads his wings, but the idea of predators and prey doesn't enter the picture everything about the badgers' night is friendly.) As the first rays of the sun appear, Baby Badger gets scooped up and carried back through the woods to bed. By this point, young listeners may already have nodded off.--Nolan, Abb. Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The night doesn't seem so wonderful to Baby Badger when this bedtime story opens. "It's too black and scary," he says, clinging to his father, too afraid to go to sleep. But as Papa Badger takes his son through the woods and into the meadow, he points out all the lovely nuances and reassurances offered by the nocturnal world (the stars "light up the night sky... and keep us from feeling alone"). Baby Badger comes to realize that Papa is on to something: "The night is magical... it's full of stars and colors and wishes." First-time author Saunders's text is literal to a fault, but there's not much of it, and its murmuring tones will probably make an effective soporific. Croatian illustrator Kolanovic, meanwhile, does marvelous things with soft, intricate textures: her air and sky sparkle and shimmer with colors, almost making the hush of night palpable. And she gives readers two adorable protagonists: the highly stylized badgers have endearingly outsize snouts and tiny dots for eyes; their fur, created with long strokes of warm gray, brown, and white, looks downy and cuddle-worthy. Ages 2-up. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Baby Badger is afraid of the dark, or at least he thinks he is. His father takes him on an evening walk through the forest and teaches him to see color in the darkness and to look for twinkling lights in the night sky. When they rest and stretch out on their backs, his dad talks about how the North Star can help to guide them home. The youngster experiences a wonderful night that ends with a falling star and thoughts of wishes coming true. Children who are afraid of the dark will find this book comforting. The conversations between Baby Badger and his dad are calming and conveyed in a patient, caring way. And by using light colors and rounded shapes, Kolanovic has created a world that looks welcoming and safe. Nocturnal animals even appear to greet readers as they peek out of the dark woods. An ideal choice for bedtime.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Baby Badger is afraid of the night. Papa Badger's comforting explanations help the little one feel safe, and he starts to see the magic in stars and nighttime colors. Their conversation continues throughout the night, ending in cozy morning slumber. Soft, airy, pastel-hued illustrations exude a sense of dreaminess and calm. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
(Picture book. 2-4)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
