Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Too Green! and By Myself! by Sumana Seeboruth, illustrated by Maribel Castells

 These two sweet board books discuss toddler experiences and feelings in an age-appropriate way. In Too Green! a brown-skinned child with short, curly hair, watches their moms get ready to cook. One has dark skin and straight hair, the other has straight blonde hair. They look on in concern as Mama takes out strange green things to cook - all they want is bread and butter! The cooking process interests them however and cheerful rhymes take the reader through cutting, stirring, cooking, and blending. They're still reluctant to try the green soup when it's finished, but their moms convince them to try a sip and they signal their approval with a loud burp and a request for more! A cute calico cat pops up here and there throughout the story. The text is short and simple but has intriguing words to try, much like the soup!

This series is aptly named "Feelings and Firsts" as the second of the two books shows a common childhood feeling - and first - of a child wanting to get dressed By Myself! Two Asian sisters wake up and get read for their day. The little one (the book calls her a toddler, but she's wearing panties, not diapers, so is more likely a preschooler) grabs clothes while the older sister puts on her glasses and hearing aid. But when little sister gets caught in her clothes, and big sister offers help, she loudly refuses. With her clothes on crooked, arms sticking out every which way, and the brush stuck in her hair, little sister is the picture of frustration - until she realizes big sister needs help too, with a tricky zipper up the back! Helping each other, the two are soon ready to go out.

Both have simple illustrations that include just enough detail to catch the attention of young readers without distracting them. The predominant colors of Too Green! are green, of course, and brown and of By Myself! pink with pastel highlights.

Verdict: These are priced a little over the average board book, but they are absolutely worth a little extra. Both little ones and parents alike will see themselves in the books and they are beautifully made, with strong, solid bindings and gently curved pages. They are also available in bilingual (Spanish) editions. Highly recommended.

Too Green
ISBN: 9781646869930

By Myself
ISBN: 9781646869954

Published August 2023 by Barefoot Books; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library