Jump in the leaf pile by Kelly Green, illustrated by Kasia Nowowiejska

 I would just like to preface this by saying that the ubiquity of leaf blowers, which I abhor, has almost completely obliterated the seasonal and sentimental pastime of jumping in piles of leaves, not to mention destroying peace, pollinators, and nutrients for the soil. Ahem.

This novelty board book has loose sliders in the four main pages that make it look as if leaves are "falling" out of the picture. The rhymes emphasize colors and movement, encouraging readers to scrape, rake, tip, and blow the leaf piles.

There are four pages with a slider and while they are loose, it does take some tapping and shaking of the book to get them to come out. When you do, they all tend to come out at once. The book itself does not feel very sturdy, with a thin cardboard cover holding the four thicker boards in place.

The art is cheerful and colorful, showing a diverse range of children playing outdoors in the leaves. The cover picture shown doesn't accurately show the way the sliders work - they all slide out horizontally on the right, so when they're all out it they're stacked on top of each other, not in a fan pattern.

Verdict: I think this will be popular, appealing to adults' nostalgia about leaves, and might, possibly, inspire some kids to try to keep leaves around a little longer. Although the book is flimsy, it's inexpensive and in areas with four seasons it's worth purchasing several copies even if they don't last long.

ISBN: 9781665962056; Board book on Baker & Taylor for $5.66

Published September 2024 by Little Simon; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

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

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Left Hand, Right Hand by Dori Elys, illustrated by Ekaterina Trukhan

 I've relaxed a lot about board books with moving parts over the years - I try to balance the cost with the fact that they'll probably disintegrate after only a handful of uses. However, I still have a hard time convincing myself to buy "touchy-feely" books, especially if they are likely to get dirty quickly. Small children are gross, I'm just gonna lay it out there.

That being said, this is a touchy-feely book that I can't help but recommend because it's very, very cleverly done. As seen on the cover, there are two options for touching - one for the left hand, one for the right. The cover is a kind of flocked yarn and pink fur, both of which I predict are going to be very nasty, very soon...

The book itself has a different texture on each page, inviting readers to touch them with the appropriate hand "Left hand smooth./Right hand bumpy." The bear and dog from the cover cavort through the pages exhibiting a smooth, shiny bucket, lightly raised circles, a sort of thin carpet which is labeled "furry" and a pathway to trace with a finger for "jumpy." There is also rough, soft, crinkle, and squash and the book ends with inviting children to touch with both hands an array of glittery stars.

Verdict: This is a fun way to help very young children practice left and right and although some of the textures are a bit odd, the cheerful pictures are cute and the book is likely to popular for the short time that it lasts. It's under $10, not too much more expensive than your average board book, and would be a good addition to most collections.

ISBN: 9781665953023; Published June 2024 by Little Simon; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: What goes in the ocean? A seek-and-find book by Dori Elys, illustrated by Katie Cottle

 Dive down into the ocean for a seek-and-find adventure that will have little ones giggling. Starting with the beach, readers will see a colorful, detailed spread showing a lion and clownfish basking in the sun with glasses and ice cream, seagulls playing chess, and a crowd of crabs and shells. The text references the crabs and gulls and asks the reader which things belong in the ocean, with a side bar specifically instructing readers to identify what belongs on the seashore.

The following spreads repeat this layout, with a coral reef, deep ocean scene, kelp forest, Arctic ocean, and finishing with a scene combining bits of all the previous pages and encouraging readers to take care of the ocean and not litter. The last spread gives a little bit of information about each scene and lists some of the items that do not belong.

My orderly mind doesn't like it that there isn't a complete list of what doesn't belong on each spread. For example, the key to the Arctic ocean lists "jungle tigers, summertime pool floaties, and ice cream carts" but there are also ducklings, marshmallows, daisies, dandelions, swirls of whipped cream, a hot dog, and, more subtly, penguins, which do not live in the Arctic. The art is fairly detailed for a toddler audience and the the text is not really related to the pictures.

Verdict: Although there are some drawbacks that make this an additional purchase only, little ones who like to sit still and look closely will enjoy picking out all the different pictures and an adult with contextual knowledge can help them find the things that are more subtle, like the penguins, or explore some other books about the different underwater habitats.

ISBN: 9781665956109; Published May 2024 by Little Simon; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: One by Ruth Forman, illustrated by Katura Gaines

 Sometimes finding a good book is a happy accident! When I was looking at possible board book titles for review, I passed over this one - it looks pretty, but in my experience these types of social-emotional/self-esteem books do not make developmentally appropriate board books and I requested a different title instead. However, this was sent to me by accident - and it turned out to be a great book, that I might never have discovered otherwise!

One is the girl on the cover, in a blue sports shirt with the letter one, having her hair brushed back into a high puff. Her brown skin glows against a yellow background. On the next page, she sits on sun-warmed yellow steps and raises her hand in greeting to... two. Two is a girl with two puffs, grinning in a gap-toothed smile against a pink background. One by one, new girls join the group. Their hair is in a variety of fun styles from cornrows to braids, their skin colors range from dark brown to light tan, and their body types are as varied as their hair styles. They all wear the same blue uniform, but one has a skirt over leggings, some wear shorts, some loose pants. They play jump rope and hang out and chat until the full ten of the soccer team is there and ready for a class picture. The text ends with "but we know we are one!" and the final spread is the photograph of the girls with a jump rope and soccer ball off the side.

I don't think infants or toddlers will grasp the idea of teams or friendship solidarity, but they can certainly get the idea of of counting. They will also appreciate the exuberant pictures that glow with positivity and pride as the girls greet their friends and play together and it's a great opportunity to introduce all ages to different Black hairstyles.

Verdict: I'm glad I saw this one and can now add it to my library's collection - I recommend it for all board book collections.

ISBN: 9781665939362; Published August 2023 by Little Simon; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

When I feel ANGRY and When I feel HAPPY, illustrated by Paula Bowles

 I will always love Child's Play for their diverse board books; they were the first I ever found that featured toddlers and young children with visible disabilities. They also do more abstract illustrated titles, but I've had mixed feelings about those, so I decided to preview this series before purchasing the rest of it.

Both books feature vaguely anthropomorphic monster/animal figures, featuring the ones shown on the covers. The text is basic statements, like "Sometimes I feel angry!" and "When I feel happy, I want to float like bubbles and swing higher and higher!" The Happy character is largely alone, showing the different ways to express happiness. The Angry character is shown frightening and upsetting other, similarly fluffy monster-like creatures, by throwing blocks and yelling. In the Angry story, the creature "take[s] time to breathe" and "think nice thoughts" and then settles in to peacefully read with the others.

There is no author listed, but the back cover gives credit to Kathryn Lester, a lecturer in developmental psychology, for her advice. The stated intentions of the book are to help young children verbalize their feelings and give "coping strategies where relevant." They are, necessarily, simple and follow a familiar layout for Child's Play books, a large square (7x7") with 7 thin but sturdy cardboard pages.

I like the approach, especially the nongendered characters, but at the same time I am always doubtful about books, especially for young children, that illustrate emotion but don't use photographs or human faces. Will a child really relate to a furry orange monster with snaggle teeth or a yellow bunny-like creature with turquoise glasses perched on its head? However, this is very common in books for toddlers, and children in general.

Verdict: This set might not be the best choice for neurodivergent or more literal children, especially infants or very young toddlers, but it does a good job of what it sets out to do - give young children words to voice their feelings. If you are looking for more social-emotional learning for little ones, this set is a good choice.

When I feel angry
ISBN: 9781786287465

When I feel happy
ISBN: 9781786287489

Published October 2023 by Child's Play; Review copies provided by publisher

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

Yikes! Discovery Series: What dwells in the deep? by Kelly Ward-Wills, illustrated by Steve James

I love nonfiction but it's really hard to find nonfiction board books that are both nonfiction (some of the things review journals call "nonfiction" are just ridiculous) and actual suited to a board book audience of infants and toddlers. You can, of course, argue that older children can enjoy board books as well and some do, but the vast majority of my caregivers and parents firmly view this format as "baby books" and I'm not going to waste time in a pointless effort to convince them otherwise.

Anyways, I was eager to see this new series from a small publisher and it turned out to be surprisingly good! The book opens with a boat floating on the water, piloted by a dark-skinned man with a beard with two dark-skinned children, a boy and a girl, on deck. They are looking at a leatherback sea turtle who is diving into the ocean.

Readers follow the turtle down to where it swims with a school of little striped fish and finds its food, jellyfish. As the readers go deeper, they meet a giant oarfish, vampire squid, sperm whale, anglerfish, dumbo octopus, and finally a snailfish at the deepest part of the ocean.

The text is very lengthy for a board book, but it actually works quite well. It uses simple, descriptive words with the name of the creature highlighted, so the adult reader can easily adapt it for shorter attention spans. Some sample sentences are, "What's that bright light shining in the black water?" or "Bye, sperm whale! We're going to see what dwells even deeper!"

The pages are numbered, unusual in a board book, and the final spread includes additional information about each creature. This will be useful for caregivers to read themselves so they can answer questions and incorporate the information into their read-alouds. There is a typo in the description of the dumbo octopus. The pages are made of thin cardboard, but it should be sufficiently sturdy for a board book, and the book is slightly larger than an average board book at 8.5x8.5 inches.

Verdict: This unique board book would be a great addition to any board book collection, especially one that caters to classes of toddlers and preschoolers. This makes a fun read-aloud for storytime as well, and the slightly larger size should make it work for a small or medium group. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781777081799; Published December 2022 by Eye of Newt Books; Review copy provided by publicist; Donated to the library

Big science for tiny tots: High Chair Chemistry by Jill Esbaum

There are a lot of board books published ostensibly for children but actually aimed at adults. I put in those categories most of those "Jane Eyre for infants" and "physics for babies" titles. You know what I'm referring to. That was what I'd expected with this new series, but it turned out to actually work really well, albeit somewhat differently than a traditional board book.

The art is composed of photographs, mostly infants in the 4-6 month age range, with a diversity of races. An Asian male and a Latina are shown at two points with the infants. Plain yellow and orange backgrounds, some decorated with household items like spoons or a bib, are placed behind the bulk of the text. The text, shown in different sizes, ranges from simple questions and statements "Are you hungry?" to the kind of talking a caregiver would do with a small child "Mixing cereal and water made something new. Doesn't it look gooood?" There are eight simple definitions of concepts, placed in small type at the bottom of pages, throughout the book "Viscosity (noun): how quickly or slowly a fluid moves in response to an outside force" and these are connected to the photos, actions, and description of the spreads. A note to the parents at the back of the book gives general guidelines for helping little ones explore science through everyday experiences.

Now, if you try to read this book straight through with an infant or toddler, it's not going to work. Even the simplified definitions are preschool level at the very least. What the book does do, is to give caregivers a pattern for talking and exploring with the infants while they have everyday experiences and give the simple science behind these everyday actions. The adult will have the background information to inform their conversation while the baby benefits from talking and interaction with an adult.

Verdict: This new series is both developmentally appropriate in modeling actions and conversations with babies while giving adult caregivers simple science explanations that they will be able to weave into their conversation and use to talk with children as they grow older and explore the world around them. A unique series, strongly recommended for most libraries.

ISBN: 9781536229660; Published May 2023 by Mit Kids Press; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Read, read, read, said the Baby: Look, it's Woof Woof Dog by Camilla Reid and Clare Youngs

This is a crossover between a board book and a novelty or "toy" book. It has the shape and size of a board book, simple art and text, and cardboard pages. However, it also has felt flaps to lift and is made with a thinner binding and lighter cardboard pages than the typical board book. It probably won't have as long a shelf-life as the typical board book.

I don't care how long they last and I want the whole series because this book is so fun, adorable, and just right for little ones!

Each spread introduces the main animal seen there, with "Look, it's Quack Quack Duck! Quack, quack! he says." The gender of the animals is alternated between he and she. A second sentence, in smaller type, asks "But do you see a beautiful dragonfly?" and moving the thick felt flap shows a small image of the dragonfly with the text "Here it is!" There are four animals, a rabbit, duck, fish, and dog, and four flaps covering a bee, tadpole, dragonfly, and mole. The final spread shows the four big animals and repeats their sounds paired with a large yellow flap covering a mirror and asking the child what they say.

The art is created in a collage-style, with patterned squares and rectangles put together to make the basic animal shapes and some foliage and decorated with slightly raised or indented sparkling accents.

Verdict: While the book's construction is a bit flimsy, this is just perfect to read with babies and toddlers and they're a reasonable cost for a novelty board book. This title is coming out with Roar Roar Lion and two more titles will be released in the fall. Recommended, especially for kits or circulating toys.

ISBN: 9798887770031; Published June 2023 by Nosy Crow/Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Oakley the Squirrel: Camping 1 2 3! A Nutty Numbers book by Nancy Rose

As I sit here reviewing this book, I am also looking out my window at a very scruffy squirrel (but one of many) who has contrived to maneuver past my baffle and squirrel-proof feeder, thus allowing him to get... a peanut.

Squirrels are cute, but they are not good at cost-benefit analysis. Also, there is something wrong with my squirrels (and chipmunks) as they have cheerfully eaten daffodil bulbs, hot pepper-laced seed, plants sprayed with hot pepper wax, Sluggo (slug bait), and Liquid Fence in both liquid and granule form. However, I can admire the determination and patience of an artist who puts these furry rats to use. Nancy Rose has created a series of seasonal picture books and now board books, creating miniature sets and props and posing the squirrels by tempting them in with sunflower seeds and peanuts.

This board book has a simple concept theme, counting the various camping items the squirrels (and one chipmunk) use and ending with little thumbnails of the various items. There are little handmade pads and pillows, squirrels rummaging around with a boat and fishing poles on a beach (said beach having a nice scattering of sunflower seeds) and appearing to be building sandcastles. This isn't necessarily a board book that is developmentally correct for the intended infant and toddler audience, but little ones will be delighted with the images of squirrels and this book will charm an older audience with the miniatures and gently humorous poses.

Verdict: An additional, but fun purchase. Older kids may be interested in doing their own photo shoots and editing after looking at some of the cute scenes and one might as well put the preponderance of squirrels to use.

ISBN: 9781523518319; Published May 2023 by Workman; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Finn's fun trucks: Bus Buddies by Finn Coyle, illustrated by Srimalie Bassani

I purchased and reviewed a previous book in this series, focused on construction trucks, a few years ago and it was fun to see a new set of vehicles portrayed. This book is focused on transportation and I was delighted to see that at least some of them appear to be set in Chicago, which is where my audience is most likely to have encountered urban transportation.

The first spread introduces a range of community helpers/transportation workers, four presenting male, one presenting female. Each worker introduces the type of bus they drive, starting with a "road trolley". The vehicle is shown on the facing page with a few simple arrows pointing to elements like the "headlights" or "cable car design". Lift the flap, an entire page, and you'll see an extended spread of the vehicle in motion. There is a mass transit bus, taking people to the Chicago sightseer spot of The Bean, a tram running on a cable, double-decker bus in London, and a monster truck bus. Technically, this last is not used for transportation - it's a school bus that has been reworked into a monster truck, apparently. The final spread brings back all the workers and their vehicles and the lifted spread shows all the areas where the vehicles run. Finn, a small blonde boy, is shown on the back cover with the explanation that he loves all kinds of vehicles.

Verdict: Vehicle books are always popular and, although people call them stereotypical there are actually relatively few published, especially ones that specifically appeal to the youngest children. While the artwork is a little blurry for a board book audience, this makes a nice addition to any board book collection, even more so for those in an urban area where kids can recognize familiar transportation methods. Also, I now know that school bus monster trucks are a Thing!

ISBN: 9781486722754; Published October 2022 by Flowerpot Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Fuzzy Furry Ouch by Cree Lane and Amanda Jane Jones

Sometimes it seems that the bulk of new board books being published are really directed at adults, either as gag-type gifts or as a cheaper, handier version of lengthier picture books. There just aren't that many books that are developmentally appropriate for infants to toddlers. On the other hand, I don't think it really matters that much ultimately, since the interaction between reader and listener may be just as, if not more, important than the actual content of the book.

That being said, this is a well-meaning book but it really does not work, not even, in my opinion, as something for an adult and child to enjoy together. The idea is simple - instead of a touch-and-feel story, it's a "do not touch" book. However, since board books are intended for young, very tactile children, this just... doesn't work. There is a "fuzzy" pink peach and a green caterpillar with spikes labeled "furry." The peach has a fuzzy coating on it, but there is no tactile element to the caterpillar (and kids shouldn't be encouraged to think of caterpillars as furry - if they look furry, it's usually hairs, not fur, and they can be irritating and/or stinging.) The cactus of the front page, which has slightly raised spikes, is repeated with no tactile elements and readers are encouraged to "find a flower instead!" with the flowers having die-cut shapes over silk.

There's a rather confusing set of pages around rain, puddles, and boots, pancakes and syrup (the syrup is smooth, not "sticky" but to be fair you... really wouldn't want a sticky page in a book). The page that bothers me the most comes next - gold foil covers an image of a stove, basically a rectangle with some white dots, with the reminder not to touch a hot stove. It doesn't look remotely like any stove, and regardless of whether the book is telling people not to touch, young children are tactile and the indented, sparkly shapes are just asking to be touched. There are several more sessions, some with a lizard and snake, "rough" palm trees that aren't textured at all, and ending with a rocket. Yes, it makes no sense to me either.

Verdict: This was an interesting idea, but in my opinion not only poorly and inaccurately executed but also actually verging on dangerous. Not recommended.

ISBN: 9781665924740; Published November 2022 by Little Simon; Review copy provided by publisher

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Windy Days by Deborah Kerbel and Miki Sato

This book looked somewhat familiar and I realized that it's a set of four titles, one for each season, with Sunny Days being a popular title in my library. The books are available in a padded picture book or sturdy board book format. This title is in the board book format.

Rhyming couplets describe the many different ways we hear, feel, and use the wind from a stormy wind to turbines to twirling the falling leaves. Charming collage illustrations show children playing, watching, and experiencing the wind and the joys of the fall season. This is set in an area with four seasons, showing colored leaves falling, the beginning of snow flakes, and colder temperatures. There is also a spread showing kids in costumes going trick or treating. An interesting variety of textures and colors are shown in the collage illustrations, including a variety of skin tones. Simple back matter describes some science experiments and explains different types of clouds, all of which can be found in the book. On the back cover is a guide to parents describing the elements included in the book.

Verdict: This series is perfect for storytime, especially since it's available in a picture book as well as a board book edition. Use this in storytime, STEM programs for little ones, or add to your board book collection for a popular seasonal touch.

ISBN: 9781772782707; Published September 2022 by Pajama Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library. Reinforced edition, 9781772782172, published 2021, added to the library order list.

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Adventure Awaits by Henry Cole

 I usually think of Henry Cole as a picture book illustrator, although he's authored and illustrated from board books to chapter books, and from the cover of this board book I was thinking it was something that should probably have been a picture book - but I had a pleasant surprise when I perused it.

The opening spread shows a gray and white spotted dog on the left and a striped yellow and brown cat on the left. They are both stretching in the yellow light from a window and accompanied by the text "sunrise/stretch." As the simple story continues, the two follow separate paths outside, their parallel journeys continuing until their pursuit of blue jays and a squirrel cause them to meet up at a tree - and take off at top speed from a mysterious creature, revealed as an owl. Back home, they curl up together on a cushion in an amusing sequence of poses, but the last spread hints at another outdoors adventure awaiting.

Henry Cole's art always makes me think of a nature journal, and the simple lines and neatly sketched animals and plants offer enough detail for young children to examine without so much that they get overwhelmed. The single words on each page are a great starting point for discussing what's happening in the pictures and encouraging children to talk about what they see and imagine about the story.

The book is a sturdy 8x8 square with thick cardboard pages and well-suited to toddler hands and eyes.

Verdict: This would make a fun addition to storytime with young toddlers and is one I'll enjoy adding to my series of outdoor storytimes this summer. It's a little more advanced than what I'd purchase for infants, but would be great for the 1-2 year old crowd.

ISBN: 9781665902908; Published May 2022 by Little Simon; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: We are shapes by Melinda Beck

 I rarely review board books from electronic galleys, since it's very difficult to get an idea of their size, layout, and structure, but I was intrigued enough by this title that I thought it was worth reviewing.

Cheerful blue backgrounds introduce a few simple shapes - a square, rectangle, circle, and triangle, and then a few unidentified squiggles. Each one has a cheerfully smiling face, created by additional shapes on the shape - the square is white with polka dots, two green dots for eyes, a textured red square nose, and blue half circle mouth. The rectangle looks like a small red brick wall, the triangle like a piece of green-painted wood.

Laughing circles roll across a long, twirling line, which turns out to be arms juggling the whole group of shapes. They stack themselves on the triangle, the circle, and the squiggle, but tumble and fall each time. The narrator encourages them to keep trying, and this time they all come together to create a snug house, with a sun, cloud, and squiggly-armed creature inside. "We are shapes, and together we are a home."

The description says the book is 7x5 inches and it looks like a vertical rectangle. Phaidon normally makes art books and I've found their titles to be interesting, but not really directed at infants and toddlers, but I think this one really works well for the age it's intended for. There are smiling "faces" on the shapes, lots of different shapes to identify, but also the art is simple and not too busy.

Verdict: This would work great in a shapes-themed storytime, especially if you have blocks and toys to go along with it so they can try their own stacking. 2-D cardboard pieces would be a fun option too, which could be turned into a picture.

ISBN: 9781838664749; Published April 2022 by Phaidon; Egalley provided by publisher; Added to order list

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Ten in the Bed: A bouncy bedtime counting book! by Gill Guile

[Originally published in 2014]

This board book illustrates the traditional rhyme with the addition of fun sounds. If you're not familiar with the rhyme, it's a subtraction chant (so it's not really accurate to say it's a counting rhyme). It goes "There were ten in the bed and the little one said 'roll over, roll over!' So they all rolled over and one fell out." Then nine, eight, etc.

This one adds a sound for each stuffed animal that falls out from "oops, crash, ow!" for the giraffe to "oink, oink, oops!" for the pig. The pictures are bright but soft colors, and all the animals are very obviously friendly and comforting bedtime friends. Careful attention to the pictures will show a logical order to the animals falling out of bed, a pattern older children will be delighted to follow, while younger children will be happy with the apparent spontaneity of the animals rolling out.

This book is a stiff cardboard rectangle, 7x9. As you can tell from the picture, its die-cut into shapes with the cover having a large open square to show the inside. The pieces of pages overlap - as you turn each one, they get bigger and bigger, revealing more empty bed, until the final page is full and the animals climb back in. There are ten pages, not counting the endpapers. Despite the oddly shaped pages, it feels very sturdy with thick cardboard and an extra strip down the inside of the right edge of the cover to keep it evenly closed. There are some wrinkles in the cover that hint at possible bending, but nothing too major.

Verdict: This has lots of things to explore - differently shaped edges, pictures of different animals, rhyming text, fun sounds, and the subtracting aspect. While I normally don't buy movable or novelty books for the library, this seems to be quite sturdy and the attractive aspects outweigh the possibly falling apart issues. Recommended.

Revisited: I did end up purchasing this and, in the ensuing years have A. changed my stance on purchasing novelty board books and B. replaced this several times. It's fairly sturdy but nothing that will stand up to the kids in my library. Tiger Tales republished it in 2017 and it's worth purchasing for storytimes or your board book collection as it's a lot of fun. ISBN for new edition 9781680105186

ISBN: 9781589256187; Published 2013 by Tiger Tales; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Added to my library's order list

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Thank you farm; Thank you tree

 These two board books, by different authors and illustrators, are both published by Storey. They're informational; not exactly nonfiction, but not quite fiction either. Thank you, farm celebrates the many foods that come from farms, from grapes to milk, eggs, to wheat. It ends with a plentifully stocked table and a final "Thank you, FARM./Thank you, FARMERS!" It does not include any meat. Chickens provide eggs, cows provide milk, sheep provide wool.

Thank you, tree is more fictional, thanking trees for shade, leaves, and syrup and ending with a labelled picture of all the trees included in the book. Both titles include a little seek-and-find activity. A small mouse shows up on each page of the farm title and a plump chipmunk in the tree title. Both show a fairly diverse group of children, as far as skin color.

The illustrators provide colorful, simple watercolors. The perspective in the tree title is odd; the chipmunk often looks as big, or bigger than, a squirrel. I prefer the brighter colors and cleaner lines of the farm title.

Overall, these are simple titles that will be a good fit for storytime or reading aloud with toddlers and talking about appreciating things as well as what comes from a farm and what we see outdoors.

Verdict: Additional purchases, more likely to circulate where farm and outdoor-themed titles are popular. Purchased for my library.

Thank you, farm by Mia Lumsden, illustrated by Jade Orlando
ISBN: 9781635863949; Published October 2021 by Storey

Thank you, tree by Hannah Fries, illustrated by Fiona Lee
ISBN: 9781635864267; Published October 2021 by Storey

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: A cub story by Kristen Tracy, illustrated by Alison Farrell

This sweet board book follows the story of a bear cub through the seasons. The story opens with the little cub peering over a green branch in a forest of red tree trunks. The furry bear sprawls out, letting readers count their wet nose, big claws, and all-over fur.

The cub eats a lot “compared to a hedgehog” and a little compared to a moose. They are slower than an elk and faster than a snail. They sniff, explore blackberry bushes, play with the wolves and foxes, climb trees, dig for food, and fish. The seasons change from the bright greens and blues of spring to the reds and yellows of autumn, to the snowy white and blue of winter as the cub settles into their den and curls up with their mama.

The book is a slightly taller rectangle with sturdy pages and the simple, declarative text is charming. The illustrations are cozy and this would make an adorable read-aloud, bedtime story, or a story to share with kids learning about seasons, bears, or concepts like size and comparison.

Verdict: A must-have purchase for most public library board book collections and it would also make a sweet gift for toddlers and babies.

ISBN: 9781452174587; Published September 2021 by Chronicle; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Nom Nom Nom by Jeffrey Burton, illustrated by Sarah Hwang

This novelty book probably won’t last long, but it’s worth it for the fun little ones will have with it while it does last!

On the left side of the spread is a list of foods and pictures, starting with “human” foods and getting progressively more “animal”. On the right side is an animal whose head lifts up to reveal a gaping mouth and the titular words.

So one spread says “Little Crocodile has a hungry smile. What does she want to eat? Chocolate-dipped donuts, an ice cream float, a bucket of worms that fell of a boat? Then below the pictured delicacies it says “Which would you choose?” and then readers can imagine Little Crocodile nom-nom-noming her treats. It gets progressively sillier until it ends with a purple alien.

The pages are thick cardstock, with the flaps being the same thickness, and the cover is just lightly glued on, another sheet of the same thin cardstock. If it had been made as a board book, with the flaps made from cardstock, you could have reinforced the flaps for a longer-lasting book.

Verdict: The colorful pictures and silly text will make this popular, but the flimsy construction puts it solidly in the “gift” category. I am starting to add more novelty books to my board book collection and will probably add this, but I don’t expect it to last more than a handful of circulations.

ISBN: 9781665900102; Published October 2021 by Little Simon; Review copy provided by publisher