Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Review - Fa La La

Fa La La
by Leslie Patricelli
Date: 2012
Publisher: Candlewick
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 26
Format: e-book
Source: library

Oh, baby! Leslie Patricelli’s one-haired wonder returns to revel in Christmas. It’s almost Christmas, and baby simply cannot contain the exuberance. There are things to decorate: a tree, a gingerbread house, a doggy! There are very creative presents to make, Santa to see (must be brave), carols to sing, not to mention the big event itself. Come celebrate the season with humor and joy as everyone’s favorite baby puts a special spin on Christmas.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm afraid I just don't get it. Maybe this has appeal for preschoolers, but I'm of the opinion that picture books can have appeal for adults, too (and it's nice when they do, because they're often the ones who have to read them over and over and over).

This book is simple. Way too simple. It's very similar to another board book I just read, Llama Llama Jingle Bells, with a small child doing the activities to get ready for Christmas. But in that case, the illustrations were more pleasant to look at, and the rhyming text was more fun.

I also couldn't figure out why this baby's parents never dressed it (except when they went out). The poor thing was always running around in just a diaper, in the middle of winter; at one point, it was even standing outside in the snow wearing nothing but said diaper and a pair of bunny slippers! It made me cold just looking at it.

The illustrations are very plain and not all that appealing. I see that there's a whole series of books about this underclothed baby, but I don't really have any desire to read another one.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.67 out of 5

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