Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Read, Read, Read, Said the Baby: Duck & Goose: How are you feeling? by Tad Hills


[This review was previously published. It has been edited and rewritten.]

The web-footed masters of early concept board books return in a book dealing with feelings. Having covered friendship, opposites and counting, they now take on feelings. From frustration to pride, sad to happy, their expressions are perfect and the pictures easily understood by small children. The sly humor and vibrant illustrations will make parents happy to read Tad Hills' board books over and over again.

This board book has a slightly smaller format - about 5 by 5 inches. It's just right for holding in small hands. Normally, I'm a little skeptical of board books with "different" concepts, like feelings etc., because they're so often too abstract for kids at the board book stage to really understand. Some of these fall into those categories; frustration, patience, etc. but they also have many more broader emotions that are conveyed not just by facial expressions but by their whole body language.

Verdict: Tad Hills' art is bright and attractive and there are a lot of fans of Duck & Goose who will be happy with whatever he does, so I would recommend adding this - and the other Duck & Goose board books - to your collection.

ISBN: 978-0375846298; Published January 2009 by Schwartz and Wade; Purchased for the library

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