Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Let's Go, Bobby! by Ruth Wielockx

A smiling brown bear sets off on a series of adventures, inviting readers to trace his path in numerous patterns. Bobby rides his bike in zigzags over the mountains, he rides a scooter in a spiral, a go-kart loops around flags in a circle, and so on. Each different pattern is impressed into the cardboard deep enough that a little toddler finger can easily trace it, but the pages are still sturdy and stiffened. Bobby dresses in a different suit for each vehicle, from a conductor's cap on the train to a sailor suit on the sea. The left side of the page includes a picture of the vehicle and Bobby, in a stiff pose, hands at his sides, showing off his outfit. The right side includes the pattern with a few details like trees, houses, and the appropriate road surface.

The book itself is a large rectangle, about 7x10 inches. There are ten spreads, each indented page is backed by a regular page so it doesn't weaken the pages. The art is bright and cheerful, it almost looks like posed clay creations.

This is perfect for developing motor skills, especially those used in writing, in young children. It's not ideal as a storytime book, as every kid will want to trace Bobby's path, but perfect for one-on-one reading.

Verdict: A must-have for your board book collection. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781605373614; Published 2017 by Clavis; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library