Bye-Bye Binky

January 15, 2016
This book seeks to use the power of persuasion to vanquish that most formidable of opponents: toddlers. In this entry in the Big Kid Power series, a little black girl makes no bones about the fact that pacifiers (or "binkies") are strictly baby territory. When she was little she needed one, but that was then. Whether she's tired, sad, or hungry, there are other ways of being comforted: hugs and polite requests, for instance. After she gives her binky to a baby and bids it a very clear goodbye, the book ends with a triumphant, "I'M A BIG KID!" Using a striking color combination of orange, brown, and black, van Lieshout keeps her pages bold and bright, complementing the simple vocabulary. Such declarations as, "Do I still have a binky? // NO, BIG KIDS DON'T NEED A BINKY. / NOPE!" leave scant wiggle room for argument. In her author's note at the end, van Lieshout says that after speaking to many parents about how they helped their kids bid their pacifiers adieu, "many of them had in common...a ritual of some sort." The ritual here seems to be giving the pacifier away, though it may be missed by many readers. Companion title I Use the Potty uses a similar approach, with a proud, white boy as its guide. Simple words and big concepts will make this a godsend to parents at their wit's end. (Picture book. 2-4)

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March 1, 2016

Toddler-PreS-These simple and visually bold titles address two common milestones in the life of a young child-letting go of a pacifier and potty training. Van Lieshout uses the appeal of being a "big kid" to encourage young children. In Bye-Bye Binky, a smiling toddler narrates her transition from a crying baby comforted only by her binky to a girl who can ask for what she needs. She marks her transition to "big kid" by passing her binky along to another baby. The digital illustrations match the simple text and mainly feature the central character, rendered in thick black lines and positioned against a solid background. Neon orange contrasts with chocolate brown, creating a striking visual effect. I Use the Potty centers on a boy who is also looking back at his baby days, when he "pooped and peed in SO MANY DIAPERS." There is plenty to appeal to those who find potty humor hilarious, including a satisfying "plop" when he finally masters the potty. The illustrations in this title are done in muted blue and neon yellow, which works especially well for an unfortunate leaky diaper scene. VERDICT Simple and engaging, these titles will work for even the shortest attention spans.-Kimberly Tolson, Medfield Public Library, MA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
These volumes discuss getting-bigger milestones in a way that little kids can grasp. Direct-address text describes each protagonist's journey from diaper- or binky-user to "BIG KID!" Simple digital illustrations in a limited palette plus thick black lines and white outlines keep the focus squarely on each toddler narrator. The books' petite, square shapes and sturdy bindings are well conceived for little hands.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)