Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Pairs! In the garden by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Lorna Scobie

This lift-the-flap board book is adorable, but not as sturdy as I need a board book to be.

Each spread features a rhyming couplet, for example "Grasshoppers are often seen/playing on the grassy green./With jumps and leaps they spring along,/chirruping a merry song." The creature introduced is in bold type.

Each spread has bright, colorful illustrations and 7 flaps. The flaps lift from the top down. They are easy to find, featuring the same plant or other image. Beneath the flaps are 7 of a creature with 3 pairs and 1 odd creature. They are colorful and bright and readers are encouraged to match up the creatures. There is also a seek and find counting challenge; 5 acorns, 10 ants, etc.

The book is a 7x7 square with thin but fairly sturdy cardboard. The flaps, however, are only made of thick cardstock and since they bend down and the pages are very crowded, would be almost impossible to reinforce.

The cartoon illustrations are colorful but very busy. I prefer simpler illustrations for very young children whose eyes are still developing.

Verdict: While I wouldn't add this to a board book collection, it would make a great addition to a storytime kit or toy bag and I'm planning on adding this one to a garden kit or possibly my existing seasons kit.

ISBN: 9781847808837; Published 2017 by Frances Lincoln; Borrowed from another library in my consortium