Read, Read, Read said the Baby: Suki Cat Dancer by Grace Habib

 This is one of two board books released in a new series featuring a little cat who likes to dress up. Suki is a blue cat who starts out the story by pulling accessories and dress-up clothes out of a toy box. She's dressed in a pair of yellow overalls, but when she chooses a pink tutu she's transformed into a ballet dancer.

She appears at a barre with other animals in leotards, then on stage. A bigger, orange cat hurts her knee and Suki takes over as the star, finishing with the words "Dressing up is lots of fun, when Suki ban be... anyone!"

The rhyming text isn't particularly outstanding, and it's really not clear, especially for very young audiences, that Suki is imagining all this happening. However, the extra sturdy construction of the book and the additional sliders and moving parts make this a strong choice for board book collections.

Several pages have inset cardboard images that are moved with a finger pushing a circle back and forth. Other pages have thick cardboard sliders that pull out in different directions. I have had issues with this style - the kids pull them too hard and they break through the book, but I think these will last a long time.

Verdict: This looks like a fun series overall with a nice mix of subjects - the companion volume to this book is Suki being an astronaut - and the sturdy construction is perfect for little hands. Moving the sliders will require pinching and pulling, some of the important motor skills for little ones to practice and the series is very affordable. Recommended.

ISBN: 9798887770901; Board Book on Baker & Taylor for $6.29

Published September 2024 by Nosy Crow; Review copy provided by publisher and donated to the library