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Board Book Reviews
Bougie Babies Boss Brunch
Harriet Evans, illus. Kim Faria, pub. Little Tiger
I have discovered a new word to add to my vocabulary. Bougie. Derived from the French bourgeois, it’s used to refer to someone with upper-class tastes, who might possibly display pretentiousness. Why did I need to look it up? There are clues a plenty in this little board book but I wanted to be sure I was understanding it fully. I am and I love it.
If you have, or know someone who has, Bougie inclinations, you’ll adore this darling book. Meet the Bougie babies who do yoga with the sunrise, visit the farmer’s market and even enjoy babyccinos. They love to colour coordinate and snack on smorgasbords. With its simple sentences, bold pictures and playful nature this book is a delight.
The Feelings Book
Mike Henson, illus. Miguel Ordóñez, pub. Happy Yak
With its extended back cover sharing some of the feeling words and their associated faces, this book is eye catching from the outset. The reason for the extended cover becomes immediate as soon as you open the book to find Orange who is feeling buzzy and jittery. After giving his paw a scratch can you identify what he’s feeling?
You’ll be able to see the words and faces from every page which means you can look at them each time and hopefully work out which one fits. Of course, there are not truly any right or wrong answers but this book offers the perfect opportunity for talking about and exploring feelings, how they affect us, might look like and even sound. A wonderful playbook.
First Friends: Colours
First Friends: Opposites
Mk Smith Despres, illus. Libby Burns, pub. Barefoot Books
With the First Friends series adults can teach young children, especially those at nursery school or its equivalent, some very important first steps in their learning journey. Not only can children share in the joy of being with friends, seeing what it is like to have a teacher, they can also enjoy the wonders of the world. They are outside when they learn about the colours all around them, so many to see and in so many different places!
Back inside and it is nearly time to rest, time for a nap and whilst they get ready the children have an opportunity to learn all about opposites. This little board book offers the perfect opportunity for little ones to join in. Arms are stretched high and then hung low, mouths open for a yawn, close for sleep. Eyes open when we wake, some smile whilst others frown. There is so much to discover and this series is the perfect accompaniment.
Hello Fish!
Hello Sun!
Sharon King-Chai, pub. Two Hoots
The series is growing Hello Bunny! and Hello Bee! Are now joined by Hello Fish! and Hello Sun! Young children, and their adults, are certain to have hours of fun with these charming, bright and informative books. A shimmering seahorse welcomes us into Hello Fish!: can you spot the hidden octopus on the next page? If you can then turn over for a special surprise and your next challenge.
When we say Hello Sun!, we are often looking at the sky. (Don’t look at the sun directly it’s too bright.) Did you know there are lots of other things to see up in the sky? Perhaps you’ll spot the flying birds. The sun lights up land and sea too, has it helped you to find the black whale in the blue sea? And what about when sun and rain are out together what can you spot then?
A delightful, charming and clever pair of board books.
I Find My First Words
ed. Little Gestalten, illus. Yayo Kawamura, pub. Die Gestalten Verlag
First words can come as a wonderful surprise, it’s impossible to know which your little one will choose to speak first. Once they have started, or even beforehand, sharing words and their associated pictures is a wonderful exercise. As speaking skills develop they’ll be able to make connections that will be invaluable once they learn to say the words for themselves.
Learning words is so much fun, especially now there is this board book to accompany the experience. It helps little ones to explore the bathroom, the park, the playground, the street, the farm, the doctor’s surgery, a holiday, the supermarket, the wardrobe and the playroom. With a big scene spread out over three quarters of the page there is also a panel with pictures to spot and their words. This book promises hours of learning and fun.
Ten Minutes to Bed: Where’s Little Dragon?
Rhiannon Fielding, illus. Chris Chatterton, pub. Ladybird Books
The Ten Minutes to Bed series continues to grow. Eight of the many books, including this one, are now board books. A certain Little Dragon named Flicker is playing hide and seek with the reader. Are you ready to visit the Land of Nod for a bedtime adventure, to find Flicker and make sure that he is tucked up in bed.
Little hands need to be able to lift the flaps and keep a close eye on the pages for clues as to where Flicker might be. Under the mushroom, in the jungle or on a moonlit log? He might be playing with the fish or perhaps, up there, do you see the dark cave? Could Flicker be in there and will he already be asleep? An absolute charm.