Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Who is smiling? by Yusuke Yonezu

Oh, this was very, very clever! The first page shows a set of apparently random dots and lines and a question. The facing page has a die-cut shape. Turn the page and the die cut shape, random dots and lines, all combine to create new animals!

The smiling face on the cover becomes the muzzle of a monkey. A straight line and dot on one side and a smiling green oval become, respectively, a fish and a frog. The book continues through various animals and ends with a smiling baby.

While most of the clues are far too abstract for a toddler or even preschooler to guess, once they've read the book a few times they'll have a better idea of what to look for. Babies will also enjoy the sensory experience of the die cut shapes.

The book is a sturdy square with glossy pages that will be easy to clean. The die cut shapes are situated firmly in the center of each page and, other than the front cover, are not large enough to weaken the structural integrity of the book.

Verdict: Sturdy, clever, and child-friendly this is a board book that children and adults will enjoy reading over and over again.

ISBN: 9789888341030; Published 2016 by Minedition; Borrowed from another library in my consortium