How Artists See Jr. series by Colleen Carroll

Ah...Nonfiction Monday is once again upon us, and boy do I have some great board books for your little art lovers. A few months ago, I reviewed Colleen Carroll's How Artists See series (see review here). As I mentioned in my review, How Artists See is a series of inquiry- based books that teach children about and help them develop an appreciation for art.

Now, Ms. Carroll has come out with a series of board books for the youngest of art lovers: How Artists See Jr. There are currently four books in the series, each with a particular theme that greatly appeals to young children: dogs, trains, babies, and horses.

How Artists See Jr. Trains

Trains Through the Ages, by Georges Spiro
Private collection / The Bridgeman Art Library
© 2008 Artists Rights Society, NY / ADAGP, Paris

Each book contains full-color spreads of works of art that feature the subject matter of the book. What's most impressive is that the works of art are very diverse: they're rendered in different mediums, come from different time periods, and show the subject matter in different settings.

As the introduction to each book says, "This diverse collection of images brings together a wide range of artists depicting a single theme, an approach that helps young children see how a favorite subject can look so different, yet so familiar."



This introduction at the beginning of the book also includes tips for using the book, including a list of age-appropriate questions adult readers can ask children about the book's subject matter.

For example, in How Artists See Jr. Dogs suggested questions include, "What is the puppy doing?," "Does she look happy or sad? How can you tell?," "How many dogs can you see," and more.

I love this feature because it encourages children to think about the book they're reading; it also shows them how they can relate what they see in books to the "real world." In addition, parents and other adults see how they can help children interact with books and help them build vocabulary skills, question/answer patterns, and more.

How Artists See Jr. Dogs

Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash, by Giacomo Balla
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York
Bequest of A. Conger Goodyear and gift of George F. Goodyear, 1964
© 2008 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/SIAE, Rome

Another great thing about the books is that they're larger board books. The dimensions are 6" x 7" 3/4, giving children the ability to see the artwork in detail.


Take a look at the piece of art below from How Artists See Jr. Horses. It spans across two spaces, and you can see the eyes of the horses, their panting mouths, the reins, and the cracks in the ancient work of art.

Horses Galloping, Egyptian, c. 14th century B.C.
Image © Erich Lessing / Art Resource, NY

So, let's talk about kid appeal. I have to admit that when I read about the premise of the book, I was a little uncertain that young children would be drawn to major works of art. After all, there are lots of adults who find it very very boring.

However, the format in which it's presented is very engaging. The combination of bright colors, thick pages, different mediums, and familiar objects draw my 19-month old to the books over and over again.

There are also no words in the book other than the introduction for parents and the name, artist, and date of the artwork. Children don't have to sit there and listen to someone read. They can explore at their own pace, name objects they see, and if they're a bit older, they can answer some of the suggested questions in the beginning.

The picture below from How Artists See Jr. Babies is one of my daughter's favorites. She points at and names the "baby, mama, eyes, nose, hat, and trees." It's fascinating to see her sit down with the books on her lap and start naming objects.

Bernadette and her Mother, by Maurice Denis
Bridgeman-Giraudon / Art Resource, NY
© 2008 Artists Rights Society, NY / ADAGP, Paris

I'm a fan of these books and think that they will appeal to both boys and girls, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and even older kids who love art. Highly recommended.

All images courtesy of Abbeville Press.


Head on over to Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Monday selections! As always, a huge thanks to Anastasia Suen for hosting!

Busy Pandas by John Schindel and Lisa and Mike Husar

Busy Pandas by John Schindel, photography by Lisa and Mike Husar

For today's Nonfiction Monday selection, I'm bringing you a book for the smallest nonfiction lovers in your family.

Back in March, I reviewed four board books in Tricycle Press's Busy Book Series. They continue to be a favorite in our house, especially Busy Kitties. Well, Tricycle Press kindly sent the latest book in the series, Busy Pandas. After a recent trip to the National Zoo where my daughter saw the pandas and received her very own tiny stuffed panda, she has been entranced by this book.

Following the same format as the other books in the series, each page in the book features a full-color photographs of pandas demonstrating the action word on the page that will help your child build vocabulary. Both baby and adult pandas are in the book doing many things young children will be familiar with. For example, we see a "panda eating," a stalk of bamboo another "panda hiding" behind bamboo, a big "panda sliding" in the snow on its back, and tiny baby "panda napping" with its mother.

The sturdy board book with thick pages makes it an ideal choice for not-so-gentle toddlers. I highly recommend this book and the others in the series. Not only do they teach fun action words, but the beautiful photographs will keep even the smallest of kids engaged.


More Info:

• Reading level: Baby-Preschool
  
• Board book: 19 pages
• Publisher: Tricycle Press; Brdbk edition (October 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582462593
• ISBN-13: 978-1582462592

Other books in the series include:

• Busy Bunnies, by John Schindel, photography by Steven Holt
• Busy Horsies, by John Schindel, photography by Casi Clark
• Busy Piggies, by John Schindel, photography by Steven Holt
  
• Busy Barnyard, by John Schindel, photography by Steven Holt
• Busy Kitties, by John Schindel, photography by Sean Franzen
• Busy Penguins, by John Schindel, photography by Jonathan Chester
• Busy Doggies, by John Schindel, photography by Beverly Sparks
• Busy Monkeys, by John Schindel, photography by Luiz Claudio Marigo

Baby Gym Series by Child's Play International, illustrated by Sanja Rescek

There's no doubt that babies love to be held, touched, sung to, and kissed; and reading to babies can be an exceptionally bonding and rewarding experience. Child's Play International's Baby Gym series enables parents and other caregivers to bond with babies through reading, singing, touching, rocking, and more.

The four board books in the series all feature short songs, movements, and activities that give parents and babies the opportunity to spend quality time together.

Bounce & Jiggle
Bounce & Jiggle is a book for the times when you want to really play with and excite your baby. It features five songs or chants along with ideas for movements and motions you can do with your baby while singing or chanting.

For example, one of the rhymes is "Humpty Dumpty."



"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Hold baby on raised knees facing you.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. Slide baby down onto your stomach.
All the King's horses and all the King's men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again." Tickle baby all over.

This rhyme can also be played with baby sitting on lap.

The bottom of the page also says, "Encourage your baby to join in by clapping to the rhymes. Baby will want to copy your mouth movements when you sing."



Wiggle & Move
Another book in the series, Wiggle & Move, features songs and chants that encourage babies to move. For example, my daughter's favorite is "Roly Poly:"

"Roly poly, roly poly, up, up, up! Lift baby's arms up.
Roly poly, roly poly, down, down, down! Point baby's arms down.
Roly, poly, roly poly, out, out, out! Point baby's arms forward.
Roly poly, roly poly, in, in, in! Hug baby.

"Movement helps to stimulate your baby's brain."


Touch & Tickle
When you want to spend some time tickling and massaging baby, Touch & Tickle offers up five songs and chants that will make your baby giggle and also provide the stimulation they need.

"Two Little Eyes," that ends with "nuzzling baby's tummy," never fails to make my daughter shake with laughter.



Calm & Soothe
Finally, for those quiet moments, Calm & Soothe offers five short lullabies that help babies drift off to sleep. In this book, the instructions mostly have caregivers rocking and softly swinging the baby. Lullabies include favorites such as "Hush, Little Baby," and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."




Child's Play International sent review copies of all four of these books just a couple of weeks ago, and they've quickly become favorites in our house. My daughter loves to hear me sing (she's probably the only person in the world who does), and she loves to imitate the movements. Sanja Rescek's colorful illustrations of cute cherub-faced babies are perfect for babies and toddlers. I also appreciate that there is diversity within the books, although the covers don't convey this. My only real complaint is that I wasn't familiar with some of the songs in the books, so I just made up my own tune. It would be great to have an accompanying CD.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend these for parents, grandparents, and caretakers of infants and toddlers, and I think they're also a great way to help older siblings bond with their younger brothers and sisters.

More Information:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Board books: 12 pages
• Publisher: Child's Play International (July 2008)
• Source of books: Review copy from publisher

Usborne Look and Say Books

Usborne Look and Say Books

Reading Level: baby-preschool
Publication Date: 2004-2008
Source of books: Received as gift




I received the four of Usborne's Look and Say books at my baby shower when I was pregnant with my daughter, and now that she's trying to say words, I pulled them off the shelf a couple of evenings ago. She really enjoys looking at the pictures and trying to repeat the words I say as I point to the pictures in the book.

The four books we own are:



School

Town

Beach

Jobs


So far, my daughter seems to enjoy the School book the best, which is surprising since the only animal in the book is a tiny hamster in a box a boy is holding. Each book is divided into five tabbed sections. The tabs themselves are rounded cardboard and contain a small picture that clues readers into the subject of the section. For example, in School , there is a tab with a picture of a colorful ball. It opens up into a two-page spread. On the left side are pictures of common things you commonly see on a playground with the word underneath the picture. On the right side is a group of children and a teacher playing on a playground, using the items that are pictured on the left. The final spread in the book shows all of the words that were introduced, along with their pictures.


Here's a sample spread from Birthday to give you a better idea of what I'm talking about.

The illustrations themselves seem to be a mixture of clay models, photographs, and watercolors, though most, including the people in the book, are impressive clay models. There are a variety of other objects on the right-hand sides, so you're not limited to teaching children only the words that are featured on the left. A variety of ethnicities and genders are also represented in the books.

If you're looking for books that will help introduce your toddler or preschooler to new words, these would make an excellent choice.

Some Reading Ideas:

1. For babies just learning to repeat sounds, point to pictures in the book, say the word underneath, and ask your baby to repeat it. "That's a car. Can you say car?" Praise the child when they attempt to repeat a word or imitate a sound. Be careful not to get frustrated if they can't do it. Just move onto the next word. They're learning even if they aren't able to repeat it just yet.
   
2. For older preschoolers who are able to identify objects, say the word and ask the child to find the object. You can also ask other questions to help them build and practice vocabulary. "Where's the bicycle? What color is it? Is a boy or girl riding it?, etc."
   
3. Again for older preschoolers, have them find the objects listed on the left hand side that are also located in the scenes on the right hand side. "Where is the apple? Who's holding the apple? What color is his shirt? , etc."

Do you have more ideas?


Other books in the series include:

• Home
• Bedtime
• First 1-2-3
• First ABC
• First Colors
• First Shapes
• Backyard
• Farm
• Weather
• Birthday

Global Babies

Global Babies A Global Fund for Children Book
Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Board book: 18 pages
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (June 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580891748
ISBN-13: 978-1580891745
Source of Book: Complimentary copy from The Global Fund for Children



Kids are fascinated with babies. They love to touch them, beg to hold them, and enjoy looking at them, so I think they will really love this week's baby/preschooler pick. Global Babies is a board book that features 17 beautiful photographs of babies around the world. Gorgeous babies from Thailand, Mali, the United States, Afghanistan, and more are dressed in customary clothing and show their distinct personalities. For example, the baby from Fiji sits on its knees with its hands behind its head just grinning at the camera, and a baby with large, glowing eyes from Rwanda peeks out from the multi-colored wrap that holds it close to its mother.

The text itself is one sentence that spans across the book, demonstrating what all babies have in common, regardless of where they're from.

Young children will be captivated by the photographs of all the babies in the book, and older preschoolers may be inspired to learn more about the different countries represented in the book. I can think of a number of expansion activities to teach children more about geography, different, cultures, and more.

In a simple, approachable format Global Babies helps children develop an appreciation for diversity and teaches us that despite all of our differences, we are all the same.

Language Development Tip:
For children learning how to form questions and answers, go through the book, pointing to the picture, asking: "Where does this baby live?" Prompt the child to respond with, "This baby lives in _____."


More about the Global Fund for Children:
"The Global Fund for Children’s mission is to advance the dignity of children and youth around the world. GFC pursues its mission by making small grants to innovative community-based organizations working with some of the world’s most vulnerable children and youth, complemented by a dynamic media program that, through books, documentary photography, and film, highlights the issues affecting children and celebrates the global society in which we all live." (Read more...)


Do you have a review of Global Babies? If so, leave a comment with your link, and I'll post it here.

Life in the Jungle by Beck Ward; illustrated by Chris Embleton

Life In The Jungle by Beck Ward; illustrated by Chris Embleton

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 10 pages
Publisher: Running Press Kids (September 7, 2004)
ISBN-10: 0762418435
ISBN-13: 978-0762418435
Source of book: Received as gift


This week's baby/preschooler selection is a book that kept my daughter occupied for half an hour last night. For a 14-month old, this is no small feet.

A Magic Windows Touch and Feel Book, Life In The Jungle invites children to guess the identity of a variety of jungle animals in the book. Each page presents clues to the animal's identity, along with a colored, textured panel, or window, that looks and feels similar to what the animal may feel like in real life. The illustrations on the book also show the animal's habitat, and the panel is built into that habitat.

Here's an example:

"I have bright and beautiful feathers.
My beak is curved and pointy.
Rub my velvety chest.
What am I?"

The illustration is of a large tree with a hole in the middle. The hole is filled up with a bright blue velvety patch.

After reading the clues and feeling the panel, the child can pull a tab, and out comes a "hidden" panel that's built into the book, revealing the animal.

In our example, we see a colorful macaw.

Other animals in the book include a crocodile, a snake, an elephant, a butterfly, and more.

The text is simple enough for a young child to understand, but babies and toddlers who can't yet comprehend the language will also enjoy the textures and colors in the book. The colorful illustrations are also attention grabbing. Younger children will need help pulling out the panels because it's a little difficult for uncoordinated fingers, especially when the book is new.

I'm a fan of touch and feel books for very young children because the different textures keep them engaged and help them develop a love for books.

No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli

No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli

Reading level: Ages 2-4
Board book: 24 pages
Publisher: Candlewick; Brdbk edition (February 26, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763632449
ISBN-13: 978-0763632441
Source of book: Purchased own copy at bookstore

At nearly 14 months old, my little chica is beginning to understand the meaning of "yes" and "no." While she can't say the words yet, she nods or shakes her head, and when she's getting ready to do something she knows she's not supposed to (like eat dog food...ewww), she'll sneakily look around to see if anyone's looking.

Needless to say, we're having a lot of fun with Leslie Patricelli's No No Yes Yes . In the book, a baby dressed only in a diaper with one springy curl coming out of the top of its head does a variety of both good and bad things. On the left side of each interior spread, the baby is doing something he/she shouldn't be doing, such as eating dog food, pulling the cat's tail, and dumping bath water on the floor. "NO NO" is written across the top of these pages. On the right side of the page, the baby is doing something he/she SHOULD be doing, such as eating a banana instead of dog food, gently petting the cat, and keeping the bathwater and toys in the bathtub. "YES YES" is written across the top of these pages.

The humorous pictures will make children laugh, and with "no no" and "yes yes" as the only words in the book, children and parents can make up their own stories. A fun way to teach the "Yes/No" concept, this book would make a nice gift for young children.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle

Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Board book: 32 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); Brdbk edition (September 15, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805047905
ISBN-13: 978-0805047905


For this week's Baby/Toddler/Preschool selection, I'm bringing you a favorite in our house. Well, anything by Eric Carle seems to be a favorite in our house. My daughter is fascinated by his colorful tissue paper collages and loves to touch (smack) the illustrations.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? features full spreads of colorful animals with the repetitive text:

"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? I see a red bird looking at me.
Red Bird, Red Bird, What Do You See? I see a yellow duck looking at me."

This repetition lets kids know what to expect, and soon they'll be "reading" along themselves. They'll also laugh at the idea of a purple cat and a blue horse. The white dog in the book looks enough like our own white dog to keep my daughter flipping to the page in the book and staring first at it and then at odog.

This book is great for babies who are just starting to recognize colors and shapes, and it's a great book to introduce toddlers and preschoolers to color words and animal words.

Check out this site for a variety of great activities you do with the book.



Other Blog Reviews:
Puss Reboots


If you have a review of Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? leave a comment with your link, and I'll post it here!

Who Goes Moo? by Make Believe Ideas

Who Goes Moo? by Make Believe Ideas
Reading level: Baby/Preschool
Board book: 12 pages
Publisher: Make Believe Ideas; Board book edition (May 19, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 184610193X
ISBN-13: 978-1846101939



This cute little board book encourages children to match animal sounds to animals by asking questions, such as "Who Goes Moo?," "Who Goes Baaaaa?," and "Who Goes Cocka-Doodle-Doo?" The question is presented on the left page of a two-page spread, and a close-up, full-color photograph, along with the name of the corresponding animal is on the right side of the spread. The questions and photographs are on top of a colorful background that will attract young children.

This is a good book to practice animal names and noises. It's also a fun way to spend some quality time with your young children. My one-year-old just giggles and giggles when my husband or I make the animal noises, and she tries to imitate them.

Counting Kisses by Karen Katz

Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book by Karen Katz

Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Board book: 32 pages
Publisher: Little Simon; Board Book Edition (January 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 068985658X
ISBN-13: 978-0689856587


For this week's baby-preschool selection, I'm featuring a board book that has become a favorite in our house. Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book by Karen Katz introduces a tired little baby receiving all kinds of kisses from Mommy, Daddy, and even Grandma. From "10 little kisses on teeny tiny toes" to one final kiss on the baby's "sleepy, dreamy head," parents can bond with their little ones by giving the same kisses to their child as the baby in the book receives. It's also a great way to introduce or practice counting, number words, and words for body parts to preschoolers. My one-year old giggles and giggles when I kiss her as I read the book.

Karen Katz's colorful, cherubic illustrations will also grab children's attention.

This book is a great way to have fun with reading and to share affection with a special child in your life. It would also make a great gift for new parents or new grandparents.

What's Up Duck? A Book of Opposites by Tad Hills

What's Up, Duck? A Book of Opposites by Tad Hills
Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Board book: 22 pages
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade; Brdbk edition (January 8, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0375847383
ISBN-13: 978-0375847387

Ever since she was a few months old, my daughter has been fascinated by ducks. Her favorite toys are the little rubber duckies that she can easily grasp and stick in her mouth. She has a yellow stuffed animal duck that she just sits and laughs at, and she desperately tries to say "duck" when I repeat it to her.

When I received a copy of Tad Hills' first board book in the Duck & Goose series, What's Up, Duck? A Book of Opposites, I knew instantly that she would love it, and boy was I right.

This board book features amusing and colorful illustrations of Duck, Goose, and friends demonstrating pairs of opposite words. For example, in the clean/dirty pair a clean, white Goose is standing with his eyes closed and hands up warding off an extremely dirty Duck who's approaching him from the opposite page.

My daughter, who is still too young to comprehend opposites, loves to look at the pictures and point at Duck, and the sturdy board book can withstand her strong and awkward grip as she flips the pages.

This book is an entertaining way to introduce new vocabulary and the concept of opposites to preschoolers who will definitely get a laugh at the funny scenarios and facial expressions on the characters.

Reading Tip: To help teach the concept of opposites, as you and your child are reading the book, read the first word in the opposite pair and then say, "The opposite of ______ is _______."


Other Blog Reviews:
Comics in the Classroom: "What’s up Duck? is a book of opposites (with a near-far page that should make fellow Grover fans smile) and while I know there are plenty of those around, this one set itself apart by sheer adorableness."

One Book Two Book: "The illustrations are soft and cheerful - the colors are bright without being garish. The ducks are cute without being overstated...At $6.99, it’s a great price for a board book and destined to become a favorite on my son’s bookshelf."


Other Books in the Duck & Goose Series:

Duck and Goose (hardcover picture book)

From the publisher: “That egg is mine! I saw it first,” says Goose. “I touched it first. It’s mine,” declares Duck....Duck and Goose have to work at getting along. You see, Duck doesn’t much care for Goose at first–and Goose isn’t fond of Duck–but both want the egg that each claims to be his. As the two tend to their egg, and make plans for the future, they come to appreciate one another’s strengths. And when a bluebird points out that it isn’t really an egg–it’s a polka dot ball–the two are not dismayed. After all, it is a lovely ball. . . ."


Duck, Duck, Goose (Hardcover Picture Book)

From the publisher: "Feathered friends forever . . . or are they? That's what we discover in this charming and hilarious follow-up to the bestselling Duck & Goose. You see, there's a challenge to their friendship: a little whippersnapper of a duck named Thistle. Thistle's good at everything (or so she thinks), from math to holding her breath to standing on her head. Duck thinks she's fantastic. But Goose does not! And so Goose is faced with a problem close to the hearts of children everywhere: what happens when your best friend makes a new friend?"

Duck and Goose, 1, 2, 3 (Board book coming in August 2008)
From the publisher: "PRESCHOOLERS WILL CHEER the return of Duck and Goose in their second board book appearance! All the favorite characters, including Bluebird and Thistle, return—this time to introduce basic counting concepts. One goose. Two ducks. Three friends. As the characters illustrate from numbers 1 to 10, children will love to follow along with the simple text and all-new original art."

Busy Animals Board Book Series

With three cats and a dog in our house, we are definitely animal lovers, and my daughter, who will turn one in just a couple of weeks, absolutely loves our animals. She also loves Tricycle Press's Busy Animal Board Books.

We own four of the eight books in the series:

• Busy Kitties, by John Schindel, photography by Sean Franzen
• Busy Penguins, by John Schindel, photography by Jonathan Chester
• Busy Doggies, by John Schindel, photography by Beverly Sparks
• Busy Monkeys, by John Schindel, photography by Luiz Claudio Marigo
  

Each page in the book features a full-color photographs of an animal(s) demonstrating the action word on the page that will help your child build vocabulary. For example, in the Busy Kitties book, we see "Kitty hissing/ Kitty kissing/ Kitty running/ Kitty sunning" and more.

My daughter is fascinated by the photographs in these sturdy books and just sits there and smiles as she flips the pages. I also appreciate that they will introduce her to other animals, like monkeys and penguins, that she doesn't have the chance to see in their natural habitats.


Other books in the series that we're adding to our wish list include:

• Busy Bunnies, by John Schindel, photography by Steven Holt
• Busy Horsies, by John Schindel, photography by Casi Clark
• Busy Piggies, by John Schindel, photography by Steven Holt
  
• Busy Barnyard, by John Schindel, photography by Steven Holt
  

These would all make a great addition to your young child's library.

10 Board Books for Building the Well-Read Child’s Library

I’m happy to be presenting the first installment in my new weekly feature, “Building the Well-Read Child’s Library,” where I’ll give you 10 recommendations for books that will help you build the foundation of your child’s library. Read more here.

Today, I’m recommending 10 board books for your baby’s library. I can’t begin to tell you how much I love board books. Those of you with infants and toddlers know that “gentle,” is not in their vocabulary…just ask my poor dog who kindly puts up with my daughter’s ear pulling and pouncing. Books are no exception—give babies a book or magazine, and it will be covered in drool and be missing pages in mere seconds.

Thankfully, someone out there came up with an idea to bind books on sturdy cardboard that could withstand the abuse of not-so-gentle children—pure genius I say. The best part is that many childhood classics are available in board book format to make these stories more accessible to younger children, and many bookstores have their own sections just for board books.

Here are 10 board books that we love in our house and that I think would give you an excellent start to building your child’s library.

On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
This is the book that inspired me to start The Well-Read Child and the first book I wrote about. Read my story here. The book describes how the sun, moon, animals, and spirits of the earth prepared themselves for the birth of the baby in the book and welcomed her/him into the world. It would make a wonderful gift for expectant parents, and kids will love to hear about the day they were born.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Eric Carle’s classic story of a caterpillar who eats a number of foods, builds a cocoon, and emerges as a butterfly, is available in board book format. This is a favorite in our house, and since my daughter was a tiny little thing, she’s been fascinated with the big yellow sun near the beginning of the book. Now, she enjoys poking her fingers through the holes the caterpillar makes in all of the food items.

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

This book never fails to give me the warm fuzzies as a father and son pair of rabbits proclaim their love for each other. My favorite line comes at the end when the little rabbit says to his father, "I love you right up to the MOON.” This is a great book for a father to read to his child.

Where Is Baby's Belly Button? by Karen Katz

I’m a big fan of Karen Katz’s vibrant illustrations and cherub-faced characters, and this interactive book is no exception. A peek-a-boo book of sorts, it encourages children to lift flaps and find the baby’s body parts (hands, toes, belly button). This is a fun way to introduce body parts.

Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton

I love Sandra Boynton’s whimsical illustrations, and this very entertaining board book features animals and the noises they make, but which animals say, “La la la?” You and your child will have so much fun making the different animal noises, and it’s a great way to teach your child about different types of animals.

Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

This book is just way too cute, and your child will get a kick out of it. A watchman at a zoo bids goodnight to a gorilla who pickpockets his keys, unlocks his cage, and follows the watchman through the zoo. As the watchman bids goodnight to all of the animals, the gorilla lets them out of their cages, and they all follow him home.

Daddy Kisses by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben

I apparently have a weakness for daddy and baby affection, and I love this adorable book that features a number of father animals kissing their babies. With lots of opportunities for kisses, you and your child will have a lot of fun with this book.

Mommy Hugs by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben

I can't leave mommies out! A perfect companion book to Daddy Kisses, Mommy Hugs explains how a variety of mommy animals hug their babies. For example, “mommy cat hugs her kitten with a nuzzle.”

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

A classic book about a little bunny rabbit who is getting ready for bed and says goodnight to everything around him. Parents who have trouble getting their little ones go to bed swear by this book. One mom I know reads the book to her son and then walks around his own room saying goodnight to everything in the room.

Baby Cakes by Karma Wilson

This book is very cute and gives lots and lots of opportunities for you to interact with your baby, from kissing him/her on the nose to a smooch on the toes. This is a great book for quality bonding time, and a perfect way to send your little one off to sleep.

Board books are a wonderful way to help you instill the joy of reading in your child from a very early age. They give babies and toddlers the opportunity to explore books without the risk of ruining them.

At 11 months old, my daughter LOVES her board books. Just last night, she sat down in the floor for 30 minutes and was flipping through them, biting them, and “talking” to the pages.

There are so many more wonderful board books out there, and it was difficult to choose just ten. I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Copyright 2008
Jill Tullo, The Well-Read Child

Board Book Reviews

Click on the links to find reviews of a variety of board books for babies and toddlers.

• Baby Gym Series by Child's Play International, illustrated by Sanja Rescek
• Baby Lamb Finds a Friend by Laura Gates Galvin
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle
• Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book by Karen Katz
• Global Babies A Global Fund for Children Book
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
• How Artists See, Jr. Series by Colleen Carroll
  
• Life in the Jungle by Beck Ward, illustrated by Chris Embelton
• My Dance Recital by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
  
• No, No, Yes, Yes by Leslie Patricelli
  
• On the Day you Were Born by Debra Frasier
• The Busy Book Series
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• Usborne Look and Say Series
  
• What's Up Duck? A Book of Opposites by Tad Hills
• What's Wrong Little Pookie by Sandra Boynton
  
• Who Goes Moo? by Make Believe Ideas