Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Moo! Moo! What are you?

This is another republished title from the previously out of print line Begin Smart, originally published in 2008 in Canada. I was pleased when Sterling started reissuing these as they're very attractive to parents and most of ours have fallen apart.

This title uses the familiar refrain of "peek-a-boo" and die cut holes, paired with touch-and-feel elements. A typical spread says "peek-a-boo" with the last "o" being a die cut circle revealing the texture of the next animal. Meanwhile the page shows the current animal and encourages children to touch it, "I see a fuzzy dog. Can you pat it?" There is a patch of orange fur for a cat, curly brown hair for a dog, white wool for a sheep, smooth textured pink for a pig, and short black fuzz for a cow.

The art is childlike with big mouths, chicks decorating every page, and quickly sketched in lines and bold colors. The book is an extra-sturdy square of about 7x7 inches. Begin Smart includes a note to parents with recommendations on experiencing the book with their children and the back lists early literacy skills encouraged by the book.

Verdict: Touchy-feely books don't last forever, but you'll get a lot of excellent use out of this one before it falls apart (or gets icky!). Recommended.

ISBN: 9781454920847; This edition published January 2017 by Sterling; Purchased for the library