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Board Book Reviews
100 First Words (My First Lift and Look)
Hettie Cox, pub. Little Tiger
There are so many words in so many languages to learn that it can be surprising, as an adult, to realise that we were very young when we began to not only say them but learn which objects to attach them to, how to spell them and then write sentences using them. If you’re wondering where to start this book gives a wonderful introduction to a selection of 100.
100 words, all contained in a board book might seem a lot but each is accompanied by a photographic or expertly illustrated image. Learning words is one thing but discovering what they associate with is possibly more important. There is more too for there are flaps to lift, questions to answer as minds are encouraged to engage. A simple, but very effective introduction to the first 100 words a child might want to learn.
Nik Nak Bunny: Astronaut
Carys Bexington, illus. Jenny Wren, pub. Little Simon
Nik Nak Bunny loves her adventures so much she’s back with a fourth one and this time she is going to take our smallest readers on a thrilling ride into space. Nik Nak bunny is going to share with us just what it is like to be an astronaut. Are you counting down with her the minutes to blast off and thinking about what you might see?
There is plenty to prepare for including the moving wheels on every page! First you must spin the wheel to find out who, or what, is in the magic hat so that Nik Nak can begin her adventures with you. Then it’s off to space where you can see the stars as well as spend some time learning about Earth and Mars. The fun continues and you will find it exciting I’m sure!
Bedtime (Ask Me About)
Rebecca Atkinson, illus. Susie Hammer, pub. Happy Yak
Do you like to be asked questions and learn the answers so that, if you are asked again you can be certain in your response? Do you have little ones who like to do the same and would you like a new way of introducing them to questions around topics they are familiar with already? These are the must-have books for you if you answered ‘yes.’
Bubble baths are wonderful just before bedtime, this one has boats in it but can you count how many and then use the slider to show your answer? After bathtime comes pyjamas but which pattern will they have tonight? Use Ask Me About Bedtime to encourage children to engage fully with every step and be more than happy with their questions having been answered by the time you tuck them in. When they want to know more about vehicles with wheels Ask Me About Busy Wheels is the perfect book. Once more there are questions, a slider to point to the answers too and now there are machines from a fire engine to a tractor little ones will delight in learning more about things with wheels.
Busy Wheels (Ask Me About)
Bodies (First Friends)
Feelings (First Friends)
Rebecca Atkinson, illus. Susie Hammer, pub. Happy Yak
It’s time for little ones to explore just what their bodies can do. Give them a beat and watch them move, explore how they bend in some places and can even help making stomping noises! From top to bottom from shoulder to hand and leg to foot, every part of our body can move in different ways and now little ones can try it out for themselves.
In a companion title little ones can explore their feelings, not such an easy task for they can be tricky to pin down. With the help of this book and the children in their classroom readers can learn to think about what happens when their tummies decide to grumble or when they get too restless. They can learn what to do too. An excellent resource.
Bugs (My First Pop-Up)
Nelly Edwards, pub. Post Wave Children’s Books
Now, I might be old enough not to need a pop-up book to introduce me to the wonderful world of bugs but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it! I very much have and I have also spent time admiring the work which has gone into the pop-ups but children will very likely fall in love with the creatures that literally pop out of the book with each turn of a page! The concept is simply but the delivery ensures it’s captivating.
Say good morning to the dragonfly who is gliding past the pond, stop to admire the different blues on its wings. Ladybird is climbing in the grass; can you work out the different patterns that make up the colours here. Butterfly dancing in the sun and bumblebee enjoying the flowers are my two favourites of them all, the complexity of collage used to create them really does make them pop. Finally take your time meeting beetle before saying goodnight to moth.
Dinosaurs (My First Peek-Through Flaps)
Lauren Crisp, pub. Little Tiger
I have no doubt that this book will be immediately popular since it features those fearsome dinosaurs that every child loves! From the tactile cover to the cut and shaped pages inside children will not tire anytime soon of this book so grown-ups, be prepared. Your guidance will likely be needed to help children learn the words to describe these beasts!
The text introducing the dinosaurs, across three of the major periods of time in which they lived has a wonderfully simple rhyme attached to it and that will make it easy for young readers to understand and learn. The words for the names of the dinosaurs, they are a bit trickier – they weren’t named with small children in mind but that won’t stop curious minds from learning. Enjoy the shaped pages and flaps and discover some of your first fascinating facts about dinosaurs along the way.
The First Works of Shakespeare
Adam Thompson, illus. Erica Harrison, pub. Messy Press
Teenagers doing their GCSE’s are likely very familiar with at least one or two of Shakespeare’s plays. Many people are very aware that he is considered to have been one of the greatest ever storytellers. His plays have certainly withstood the test of time and become a part of the fabric of society as much as history. Now there is a new series, First Works which, as the series title suggests, intends to bring readers some first works.
In this instance this accessible and playful book gives us a biography of Shakespeare but one which is perfectly suited to the youngest of readers. Of Shakespeare’s 38 plays, six are presented in this board book. Across a double page spread we are given a very brief introduction to the play/the story, paired with a visual. The visual is a selection of first words, and accompanying pictures, highlighting key elements of the plays. Young readers now have the opportunity to be inspired by one of the world’s greatest storytellers!
Happy Dog, Sad Dog
Sam Lloyd, pub. Little Tiger
Do you know a little one who loves dogs? Perhaps you have a dog of your own or know someone who does. Have you encouraged them to get to know the dog, to learn how to behave with it and in turn how it can behave? Have you had a chance to show how dogs can be happy and sad or even big and little?
Some dogs are clean, others are dirty and so on the opposites go. Did you know that dogs were such good exemplars of opposites? It really is quite wonderful how helpful they are in this little board book, showing children just how easy it can be to spot differences whilst at the same time discovering the language for them and understanding how one can be the opposite of the other. With bold and simple illustrations filling (or not) the pages as needed this book is a delight.
The Lost Glove: A Nell & Beany Adventure
Camilla Reid, illus. Kate Hindley, pub. Macmillan Children’s Books
Nell and Beany, an unusual best friend pairing if you think that usually cats and dogs don’t get along, but equally a delightful duo, are back for another adventure. They simply can’t resist and I know I can’t resist sharing them! Today there is a castle for them to explore which would be exciting on its own but there is more…
Someone is following Nell and Beany. Will you be able to spot who it is before they do? There is a charming rhyming text to follow which truly helps little readers to engage with the story and listen carefully. There are tabs to slide, push and pull so that the engagement with the story goes one step further and little readers can feel as though they too are the storyteller. With so much fun in this one little book maybe you’d like to explore the castle too?
Make Some Noise (First Stories for Baby)
Emma Dodd, pub. Templar Books
It might strike some people as unusual to have a baby book wrapped in a, primarily, black and white cover but it is actually very soothing and suggestive of eyes being closed, sleep being invited in. Both books provide comfort too since the colours inside are muted too, you’ll soon understand the appeal. And with lovely bold, exciting and comforting illustrations both books will undoubtedly lull the youngest listener into a wonderful sleep!
Four stories in each book allow us the chance to make some noise with a baby bear, dolphin, owl and tiger. Their stories, which will be wonderful if read aloud complete with sound effects, are short and incredibly cute and you’ll likely find baby gurgling along with you. If you choose to snuggle up and be cosy then why not do it with a board book? This one features the same four creatures yet here we find them in different scenarios which means there are new things to look at and noises to be made. A comforting dream these books are perfect for babies and their parents.
Snuggle Up (First Stories for Baby)
No Hugs (Feelings and Firsts)
Sumana Seeboruth, illus. Maribel Castells, pub. Barefoot Books
When young children first learn to notice their feelings they can be unsure what to do with them. When someone reaches out and wants to give them, or even their adults a hug, they may not understand why or what it means, they may not like the way it feels. But do they understand how to say no to something that doesn’t feel right? Help them explore and learn.
Having to stay when your big people leave can be extremely hard for small children. They don’t always realise what it means to hear that their big people will come back or that they will have lots of fun with new friends at nursery or school. Help them to alleviate their worries with this charming and straightforward little book in the Feelings and Firsts series.
Please Stay (Feelings and Firsts)
Noisy Nursery Rhymes (My First Touch and Feel Sound Book)
illus. Laura Silveira, pub. Little Tiger
It’s time for your little ones to reach out and hold the book in their hands. It’s a board book so it’s sturdy enough to withstand them doing this over and over again. That’s fortunate since this book wants them to do more. Once they have it in their hands it wants them to touch, to feel and even to discover that books can make sounds!
It’s going to be slightly noisy in your house from now on, once the children start discovering the noises that come with their favourite nursery rhymes they will be repeating them with (and without) the book in hand! There’s more. They can learn the words to Incy Wincy Spider, hear the sound, the tune, it is set to and they can touch the spider too! With a bus, cow, crocodile and even a star to play with, sing along with and simply enjoy this board book promises hours of noisy fun!