Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Ruby has red building blocks, Benji has blue. Each child is engaged happily in parallel play until Benji decides to take a red block. The large format pages are well-suited for reading to a group. Set on white backgrounds, the images fill the pages and draw readers into the action. The page design has a theatrical quality, as each character enters the space, takes a central position, then shifts to the side as the next character appears. A dramatic two-page spread puts the red block in the center, with each child shouting, Mine! The resulting scuffle destroys their towers. Once the blocks are mixed, however, Benji and Ruby realize that their structure might be better if they worked together and used all the blocks. The conflict appears happily resolved . . . until Guy arrives with green blocks. The last line asks, What will they do now? A clue may be found by discussing the opening endpapers, which depict a random assortment of red and blue blocks, and the closing endpapers, which feature stacks built with all three colors. The mixed-media artwork has the appearance of block printing, with the children's varying skin tones highlighted by pastel outlines and accents. Its entertaining approach to problem-solving and large-format illustrations make this book a terrific pick for preschool story time, hopefully followed by a building activity.--Whitehurst, Lucinda Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Toddler-PreS-Two preschoolers are building with blocks. Ruby has red blocks, and Benji has blue. When Benji takes one of the red blocks, a struggle to get it back causes both of the children's creations to come tumbling down and the blocks to get commingled in the process. This early concept book is right on target for its young audience and provides a great opportunity to ask listeners about what the characters are feeling and doing. The mixed-media illustrations on a white background allow for no distractions, and the emotions and actions are clearly depicted. The addition of Guy with his green blocks at the very end might result in some giggles as the text asks, "What will they do now?" The use of minimal colors offers an additional opportunity to incorporate this title into a color-themed program. Parents and caregivers will certainly want to share this book with their children. VERDICT Pair this selection with Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama Time to Share or in a color storytime with Leo Lionni's classic Little Blue and Little Yellow. -Shana Morales, Windsor Public Library, Windsor, CT c Copyright 2016. 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
Ruby has red blocks, while Benjis are blue. The two play quietly and separately with their own blocks -- until Benji picks up one of Rubys red ones. A brief tug-of-war ensues ("Mine! says Ruby. / Mine! says Benji") and ends with each falling backward ("CRASH!"), creating one big pile of mixed-up blocks ("Uh-oh"). When the pair realizes that two colors are better than one, they begin building again -- this time together, with grander and more colorful results. The final page shows a third child, Guy, pulling a wagon of green blocks: "What will they do now?" Young audiences know the answer, and the endpapers prove them right with a display of creative items built out of red, blue, and green blocks. Dicksons picture-book debut is thoughtfully illustrated and designed. Against white backgrounds, the mixed-media illustrations keep things simple, the childrens clothing color-coordinated with their blocks and their facial expressions clear and easy to read. The books shape is fittingly square, and on the eye-catching cover the title is cleverly spelled out with alphabet blocks. With its spare but preschool-drama-filled text, this attractive book makes a first-rate read-aloud. jennifer m. brabander (c) Copyright 2016. 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
A cleverly simple book builds skills as well as towers. Ruby, a dark-skinned, dark-haired child wearing red, has red blocks, while Benji, a white boy clad in blue, has blue. Once introduced in bold mixed-media illustrations set against empty white backgrounds, they engage in parallel play and build separate towers with their respective blocks. Ruby is on the verso and Benji on the recto, with the gutter neatly separating themexcept for an errant red block that barely sneaks onto Benji's side. With the next page turn, Benji takes a red block, and Ruby looks on, aghast. After she watches him walk away, the next double-page spread shows the children in a furious tug of war across the gutter that sets them up for the next chaotic spread. They've now pulled apart and tumble onto opposite pages amid a storm of blue and red blocks. Once they gather themselves they notice they both have blocks of each color, and they build a big blue and red structure together. That could be a fine end to the picture book, but Dickson has more in store: a page turn shows Guy, a young black boy clad in green, pulling a wagon with green blocks. "What will they do now?" asks the final line of text, leaving possible answers open for readers to speculate on. Like Ruby, Benji, and Guy, readers will want to share Blocks! (Picture book. 2-4) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
