Say & Play: Baby Animals
Sterling    28 pp.
8/12    978-1-4027-9890-0    $4.95

Say & Play: Colors
Sterling    28 pp.
8/12    978-1-4027-9892-4    $4.95

Say & Play: First Words
Sterling    28 pp.
10/12    978-1-4027-9893-1    $4.95

Say & Play: Numbers
Sterling    28 pp.
10/12    978-1-4027-9891-7    $4.95

Say & Play: Oink, Moo, Meow
Sterling    28 pp.
10/12    978-1-4027-9889-4    $4.95

Say & Play: Things That Go
Sterling    28 pp.
8/12    978-1-4027-9894-8    $4.95

Perfectly suited for “point and say” sharing, these six companion volumes feature clearly identified and cleanly photographed images laid out on generous white backgrounds. Compared to many titles on the board book shelves that are packed with pictures and cluttered by complicated layouts, this series stands out as a model of calm, simplicity. Several of the images are used across the series — the distinctive green car in First Words is also found in Numbers, as are the plaid shoes and the rubber ducks. This use of repeated images is likely to be noted and enjoyed by attentive toddlers.

1-2-3 Dinosaurs Bite!: A Prehistoric Counting Book
by the American Museum of Natural History; illus. by Steve Jenkins
Sterling    18 pp.
10/12    978-1-4027-7722-6    $6.95

Jagged bites taken out of the pages provide young dinosaur lovers with a tactile shiver as they count through this dangerous (but delightful) collection of prehistoric beasts. Adult readers will appreciate the pronunciation guide for each of the five featured dinosaurs. More noteworthy however, is the book’s back matter — which includes age-appropriate information on what the dinosaurs really ate and a one-to-ten review of items within the illustrations that can be counted. This title is an impressive introduction to nonfiction for the board book set.

Spot the Animals: A Lift-the-Flap Book of Colors
by the American Museum of Natural History; illus. by Steve Jenkins
Sterling    16 pp.
10/12    978-1-4027-7723-3    $6.95

Like 1-2-3 Dinosaurs Bite!, this collaboration between Steve Jenkins and the American Museum of Natural History is notable for both its art and its science. For all six animals depicted, answering an introductory question (example: “Can you spot the green animal?”) and then lifting an often-leaf-shaped flap to see the answer underneath (a snake) will be wonderfully engaging. But that engagement is enhanced with additional information, shown in smaller type, about the hidden animal. The art — colorful and multi-layered collage illustrations — adds context and content. This pattern of general information followed by more detailed facts continues throughout as readers also meet a crab, a bug, a fish, a penguin, and a butterfly.

Cinderella: Les Petits Fairytales
by Trixie Belle and Melissa Caruso-Scott; illus. by Oliver Lake
Holt    26 pp.
10/12    978-0-8050-9624-8    $7.99

With surprising brevity, the authors and illustrator provide a complete, and completely satisfying, retelling of “Cinderella.” Using a total of only eighteen words and never more than four words per spread, the text conveys the essence of the story while leaving plenty of room for embellishment and reader/listener conversation. The artistic style, particularly the over-sized heads of the characters, gives the title a contemporary flavor, and the restrained sprinkle of glitter on the cover is sure to appeal to young aspiring royals.

Everything Goes: 123 Beep Beep Beep!: A Counting Book
by Brian Biggs; illus. by the author
Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins    24 pp.
1/13    978-0-06-195812-0    $7.99

Stylized cartoon illustrations and an unexpected assortment of vehicles bring a unique charm to this counting book. While the one bus and three fire trucks might be expected, the five taxis, six food trucks and eight compact cars add an urban flavor to the mix, as does the one “big traffic jam” that concludes the volume. The illustrations are clear enough that the vehicles are easily identified but return visits and careful examination reveal numerous clever details. (For youngsters interested in anything with wheels, the companion title Everything Goes: Stop! Go!: A Book of Opposites is also recommended.)

Meeow and the Big Box
by Sebastien Braun; illus. by the author
Boxer    26 pp.
9/12    978-1-907152-88-7    $6.95

Meeow, a little black cat with a penchant for imaginative play, is a wonderful stand-in for many an active young child. An observant narrator describes the transformation of a big brown box into a bright red fire engine by the creative and “clever Meeow.” Simple drawings, saturated color, and generously sized type give the book a bold and inviting look. Meeow and friends are featured in three equally appealing companion titles that are likely to inspire playful reenactments: Meeow and the Little Chairs, Meeow and the Blue Table, and Meeow and the Pots and Pans.

Colores Everywhere!: Colors in English y Español
edited and designed by Madeleine Budnick; photos by Peggy Tenison
Trinity University Press    20 pp.
12/12    978-1-59534-139-6    $7.95

Hello, Círculos!: Shapes in English y Español
edited and designed by Madeleine Budnick; photos by Peggy Tenison
Trinity University Press    20 pp.
12/12    978-1-59534-140-2    $7.95

As did the earlier publication 1, 2, 3, Sí! (2011), these two bilingual concept books bring works of art from the San Antonio Museum of Art’s collection to a young audience. In addition to identifying the colors and shapes found in the illustrations, each spread includes, in smaller type and in both languages, a question intended to spark conversation. For example, the yellow/amarillo dish from China asks the child to find the dragons hiding among the decorations; the square/cuadrado painting by Frank Stella asks the child to identify the smallest square. Back matter provides detailed information about each piece of art.

Baby ABC
by Deborah Donenfeld
Dial    24 pp.
1/13    978-0803739734    $6.99

This stylish alphabet book is populated with babies photographed in muted black and white. Pops of color are added to highlight the items the babies are holding, wearing, or using to represent each of the letters — the B baby wears bright yellow boots, the L baby is holding (and tasting) an olive green leaf, the X baby is playing a multicolored xylophone. Although all the babies don’t appear to be blond and blue-eyed, some additional diversity would have been a nice touch. Still, it is hard to quibble with a book so successful at depicting the alphabet and so sophisticated in its design. (A companion counting book, Baby 123, was not seen.)

Duck and Goose: Goose Needs a Hug
by Tad Hills; illus. by the author
Schwartz & Wade/Random    22 pp.
12/12    978-0-307-98293-3    $6.99

Hills brings his familiar cast of avian characters to another satisfying story. A forlorn-looking Goose is trying very hard to tell his friends what he needs, but they are sure they know just how to cheer him up. After trying hide-and-seek, a game of tag, standing on their heads, a splash in the puddle, and a happy song, they finally allow Goose to request his much-needed hug. The story concludes with a warm group embrace that has all four friends sighing with contentment.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault; illus. by Lois Ehlert
Little Simon    36 pp.
8/12    978-1-4424-5070-7    $7.99

A favorite of young children, parents, and preschool teachers since its original publication in 1989, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is now available in full in board book format. (A previous edition included only half the story.) Described as a “Classic Board Book,” this version contains the entire tale, from the trek up the tree through the pileup and rescue, to the letter A’s “dare double dare” in the moonlight. The final spread echoes the end pages of the trade edition with its colorful display of the entire alphabet in upper and lowercase.

Snow
by Uri Shulevitz; illus. by the author
Farrar    32 pp.
10/12    978-0-374-37093-0    $7.99

Neither the mood of Shulevitz’s story nor the magic of his illustrations is lost as this 1999 Caldecott Honor book is reissued in board book form. The optimistic anticipation and joyful exhilaration of “boy with dog” are undiminished by the smaller trim size. The young listener can still find that one tiny, all-important snowflake that begins the tale and will certainly delight in the transformative power of “snow, snow and snow” that brings the story to a close.

Polar Bear Night
by Lauren Thompson; illus. by Stephen Savage
Cartwheel/Scholastic    36 pp.
1/13    978-0-545-48558-6    $8.99

A young polar bear cub sets off alone on a quiet yet wonder-filled walk among sleeping animals and falling stars, only to return through the “keen, clear night” to snuggle into her “mother bear’s soft, warm fur.” This story of adventure and reunion is tailor-made for toddlers who are working hard to establish their independence without giving up their sense of security. The board book version maintains the emotional warmth of the original picture book text (2004) as well as the artistic integrity of its evocative illustrations.

This column is part of a series of twice-yearly roundups; see the first installment here. Don’t miss Viki Ash’s primer “What Makes a Good Board Book?” online and in the March/April 2010 Horn Book Magazine.

The post Board Book Roundup: Spring 2013 Edition appeared first on The Horn Book.

Editors’ note: this inaugural column will be followed by twice-yearly roundups to be published on the Horn Book website, www.hbook.com — and don’t miss Viki Ash’s primer, “What Makes a Good Board Book?” online and in the March/April 2010 Horn Book Magazine.

My fascination with board books began in 1987 with a quartet of them by Helen Oxenbury: Clap Hands; All Fall Down; Tickle, Tickle; and Say Goodnight. At that time my niece Abby was a baby, and I read them repeatedly, and with great pleasure, to her. She is all grown up now and a middle-school language arts teacher, and I like to think those early board book experiences started her on the road to reading. It is that same hope that I bring to this inaugural board book roundup.

Whether you are selecting board books for a public library collection, a toddler daycare setting, or your own child (or grandchild), it is often difficult to know exactly what is available. In addition to the big publishing companies, there are any number of smaller houses that may have a few gems hidden in their catalogs. This roundup is an attempt to ease the search for recently published board books that are worthy of consideration. The reviews are brief—but then, so are the books!

Alice in Wonderland
by Jennifer Adams; illus. by Alison Oliver
Gibbs Smith 22 pp.
3/12 978-1-4236-2477-6 $9.99

Jane Eyre
by Jennifer Adams; illus. by Alison Oliver
Gibbs Smith 22 pp.
3/12 978-1-4236-2474-5 $9.99

Publishers and authors are aware of the need to create books that appeal not only to the very youngest child but to the adults who will be reading to him or her as well; these two board books are undoubtedly aimed at parents who majored in English literature. The Alice colors primer volume includes the expected white rabbit, pink flamingos, and red hearts. Counting book Jane works a little harder (and more cleverly) to depict one governess, four towers of Thornfield Hall, and eight drawings—including sketches of Adele, Mr. Rochester, and Pilot. Other entries in the Baby Lit series offer a wink and a nod to Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, and A Christmas Carol.

Duck to the Rescue
by Jez Alborough; illus. by the author
Kane Miller 14 pp.
1/12 978-1-61067-080-7 $7.99

Duck’s Day Out
by Jez Alborough; illus. by the author
Kane Miller 14 pp.
1/12 978-1-61067-079-1 $7.99

Alborough’s familiar picture-book characters, Duck and Sheep, are introduced to an even younger audience in these two slight but engaging rhyming stories. In Duck to the Rescue, Sheep gets lost while driving to the fair. Duck’s attempts to redirect his friend go awry when Sheep’s jeep gets stuck in a mud puddle and he falls into a pond. Not to worry. Duck stands ready to drive a slightly dripping Sheep to the fair in his trusty truck. Duck’s Day Out finds the duo taking a boat trip that is great fun for Duck but a trial for Sheep. Again, though, Duck is ready to help, this time with a little snack and a ride home.

I Say, You Say Animal Sounds!
by Tad Carpenter; illus. by the author
LB Kids/Little, Brown 18 pp.
9/12 978-0-316-20073-8 $6.99

The fun here lies in a participatory text and oversize gatefolds. The art is colorful and not always realistic — the lion’s grassland is purple, and the duck’s green pond is situated on a field of blue grass. This whimsical break from realism won’t detract from the pleasure of the shared reading experience, however, and the whole joyful romp ends with a flap revealing all the featured animals and their sounds. A companion volume, I Say, You Say Opposites!, is equally enjoyable.

Colors
by Orla Kiely; illus. by the author
Holt 20 pp.
4/12 978-0-8050-9491-6 $9.99

Numbers
by Orla Kiely; illus. by the author
Holt 20 pp.
4/12 978-0-8050-9492-3 $9.99

The muted colors and patterned papers of these two stylish concept books have a sophisticated appeal that many will find a welcome change from the bold colors and cartoon illustrations often associated with board books. Several images are shared between the volumes — the red elephant of Colors becomes four elephants in Numbers. The same is true of the pears, the cups, and the flowers — a repetition that could become a playful exercise in visual discrimination.

I Can Do It Myself!
by Stephen Krensky; illus. by Sara Gillingham
Abrams Appleseed/Abrams 12 pp.
8/12 978-1-4197-0400-0 $6.95

Now I Am Big!
by Stephen Krensky; illus. by Sara Gillingham
Abrams Appleseed/Abrams 12 pp.
8/12 978-1-4197-0416-1 $6.95

Krensky celebrates the increasing independence of toddlers and their pride of accomplishment. The rhyming texts are accompanied by Gillingham’s retro illustrations that feature dots, spots, and crosshatching patterns. The less-than-saturated colors add a used-and-loved feel to the books that is sweetly nostalgic without being overly sentimental.

Trains Go
by Steve Light; illus. by the author
Chronicle 16 pp.
1/12 978-0-8118-7942-2 $8.99

Within a long and low trim size, Light illustrates seven noisy trains and one red caboose in a bold, impressionistic style. The design also features type in various sizes and angles that add to the energy of the volume. From the squeak, clang, ting, and bing of the freight train to the chugga, chugga, choooo of the big steam train, the text calls for a spirited reading — probably not at bedtime, though.

Pantone: Colors
by Pantone; illus. by Helen Dardik
Abrams Appleseed/Abrams 20 pp.
3/12 978-1-4197-0180-1 $9.95

Only the color-matching Pantone company could provide this much variety in a color concept book. Simple illustrations on the right side of the spreads identify nine colors and are accompanied by a grid of twenty shades of the same color on the left. The shades are identified by their Pantone numbers and fanciful names such as basketball orange, dollar bill green, and barbecue sauce brown. The final spread provides an extravaganza of colorful animals, objects, fruits, and vegetables whose shades can provide a wealth of conversational opportunities.

First Concepts Colors
by Roger Priddy; illus. by the author
Priddy/Macmillan 12 pp.
4/12 978-0-312-51377-1 $8.99

First Concepts Numbers
by Roger Priddy; illus. by the author
Priddy/Macmillan 12 pp.
4/12 978-0-312-51378-8 $8.99

For the young realist, the photographic illustrations in this pair of concept books should be a welcome diversion. Lift-the-flap and pull-the-tab interactivity adds an element of playful engagement. Colors ends with an array of colored pencils that serves as a review of the book’s contents. Numbers concludes with a similar review, this time in the form of a small ten-page book-within-a-book that reprints the larger volume’s numbers and photos.

ABC, Now You See Me
by Kim Siebold; illus. by the author
RP Kids/Running 14 pp.
4/12 978-0-7624-4067-2 $13.95

Each of twenty-six animal illustrations is accompanied by a hinged door that reveals the animal’s name. The stylized illustrations, rendered in a soft palette with plenty of geometric shapes, may be difficult to identify on first viewing but have a simple and engaging charm. Unexpected animals, such as the iguana, newt, and upland gorilla, make this a vocabulary-rich experience. The inclusion of both upper and lowercase letters adds educational value.

Cradle Me
by Debby Slier; photos by Marilyn Angel Wynn and others
Star Bright 14 pp.
1/12 978-1-59572-274-4 $6.95

In a book tailor-made for babies (who love looking at other babies), Slier introduces eleven infants from different Native American tribes, safely and (for the most part) happily secured in their cradleboards. Each picture is accompanied by a single word describing the baby’s actions or emotions. The culturally specific and the humanly universal are both depicted here.

Pouch!
by David Ezra Stein; illus. by the author
Paulsen/Penguin 32 pp.
3/12 978-0-399-25738-4 $6.99

Pouch! is a fine example of a picture book that translates to the board book format with great success. Neither the charm of the story nor the energy of the illustrations is diminished by this edition’s smaller trim size. The plot, which moves a young kangaroo in and out of his mother’s pouch as he explores the world and seeks independence, speaks directly to the developmental milestones of young childhood and is thus ideally suited for a board book audience.

Animal 123
by Britta Teckentrup; illus. by the author
Chronicle 20 pp.
2/12 978-1-4521-0993-0 $12.99

Beginning with one wiggly snake, a sturdy flap in the shape of the numeral one unfolds to reveal a second wiggly snake. Two marching elephants follow, and with the lift of the numeral two, three marching elephants come into view. The pattern continues through the number nine, where the flap unfolds once to reveal ten dragonflies and unfolds again to a pictorial and numerical review. The big, bold numeral flaps, uncluttered layouts, and appealing illustrations make this a model of conceptual clarity. A companion volume, Animal Spots and Stripes, is also available.

Daddies and Their Babies
by Guido van Genechten; illus. by the author
Clavis 20 pp.
3/12 978-1-60537-110-8 $9.99

Ten animal dads are introduced in simple, patterned text and illustrated in black, white, and shades of gray. Beginning with a “frog daddy with his baby frog” and including the de rigueur “dog daddy with his baby pup,” the book features some unexpected and vocabulary-stretching duos as well—the hedgehog daddy with his baby piglet, the crocodile daddy with his baby hatchling. For the scientific purist, the book is diminished by the inclusion of the caterpillar daddy with his baby caterpillar—a biological impossibility. Those of a more artistic inclination may find that the charm of the illustrations overcomes this problem, however. (Companion volume Mommies and Their Babies was not seen.)

A Nest in Springtime: A Bilingual Book of Numbers
by Belle Yang; illus. by the author
Candlewick 24 pp.
4/12 978-0-7636-5279-1 $6.99

Summertime Rainbow: A Bilingual Book of Colors
by Belle Yang; illus. by the author
Candlewick 24 pp.
4/12 978-0-7636-5280-7 $6.99

Regardless of the subtitles, these are not the number and color books one might expect. Nest in Springtime does not include boldly identified, sequential numbers; Summertime Rainbow does not include an individual spread for each color. Instead, these are simple stories, with texts in English and Mandarin Chinese, that include colors and numbers and thus nod quietly to their conceptual underpinnings. The final spread in both volumes provides English-language readers with an explanation of the tonal subtleties of Mandarin Chinese and assistance with pinyin pronunciations.

From the November/December 2012 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.

The post Board Book Roundup appeared first on The Horn Book.

Although there are many possible reasons for reading to babies and toddlers, several general responses immediately come to mind. Sharing books with young children can:

• Nurture a love of books and reading
• Provide sensory stimulation in support of brain development
• Develop language • Impart knowledge of the world and how it works
• Create a joyful and loving connection between babies/toddlers and their grownups.

Certainly these are some big tasks for such small books, tasks that require multiple readings of a wide array of books. Fortunately, the number and variety of board books available is substantial. The challenge is in selecting those that the young listeners will enjoy and the adult readers will happily share time and time again.

Board books, most fundamentally, are a format-specific subgenre of the traditional picture book. Consequently, they are subject to the same evaluative criteria used when considering the larger group, namely the quality of both the text and the illustrations as well as the successful interplay of the two. Board books, however, must also be appropriate for the very youngest child, whose visual acuity, verbal skills, and attention span are in various stages of development. While the target group varies in age by only about thirty-six months, their developmental levels are remarkably different from one end of the spectrum to the other and from one child to the next.

So what is the loving parent, the doting grandparent, the committed care provider to do when selecting board books to purchase and to share? I suggest considering and categorizing the options. Understanding and classifying the board book universe will help you provide a variety of reading and language experiences across the developmental spectrum that describes babies and toddlers.

The Text: Concepts or Stories

Textually board books divide naturally, if not always neatly, between those that contain some semblance of a story and those that support conceptual understanding. There are any number of board books that afford “point and say” opportunities for identifying colors, shapes, numbers, and other concepts. Lois Ehlert’s Color Zoo, originally published in a trade picture book edition and later reissued in board book format, supplies the young child with two conceptual experiences. Although the abstract depictions of the animals may not be obvious immediately, Ehlert’s unique exploration of colors and shapes provides the reader and the listener with a wealth of conversational opportunities. Mem Fox approaches animals from a narrative rather than conceptual perspective in Time for Bed. Her rhyming text introduces a variety of animal babies settling in for the night, culminating with a sleeping child receiving a mother’s wish for sweet dreams. Bill Martin Jr. finds the textual middle ground with both the trade and board book editions of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, which reinforces color concepts using language that is both patterned and narrative.

The Illustrations: Photos or Drawings

An important visual distinction among board books are those that feature drawings or paintings and those that are illustrated with photographs. For a young child, the jump from a real object to a visual representation of that object is often a shorter distance when the representation is photographic. Margaret Miller, cognizant of both the challenge of this visual jump and the fact that babies love looking at other babies, provides a visual explanation of emotional and sensory responses in Baby Faces. She pairs expressive photographic portraits with simple descriptions such as stinky, yucky, and yippee. Helen Oxenbury populates her books with babies and toddlers as well. Like Miller, she depicts children that are ethnically diverse and have expressive faces, although she draws rather than photographs her subjects. Originally published in 1987, Oxenbury’s quartet, which includes All Fall Down, Clap Hands, Say Goodnight, and Tickle Tickle, was reissued with revised covers in 1999. The series exemplifies a sensitivity to the daily realities of toddlerhood while extending a rhyming text with illustrative nuances.

The Mood: Soothing or Stimulating

Board books speak to the many moods of childhood. Through skillful use of text, illustrations, typography, color, and layout, board book creators establish a mood that can be enhanced with the proper delivery. Amy Hest has created an engaging but soothing bedtime tale in Kiss Good Night. After hearing a story, enjoying a glass of milk, and snuggling in with his stuff ed animal friends, Sam waits for his mother’s good night kiss and then drifts off to sleep. At the other end of the excitement continuum, Sandra Boynton provides lively, stimulating stories that call for boisterous readings and elicit wiggling responses with her books Barnyard Dance! and Moo, Baa, La La La!

Engaging the Senses: Texture or Manipulation

Young children learn much about the world through their senses. And while board books are made to be read, many also invite interactivity by providing textures to explore, flaps to lift, tabs to pull. Illustrator Emily Bolam combines bold colors with embossed textures in her Touch, Look, and Learn! books. The decision to use coated paper and embossed rather than furry or fluff y textures makes these books well-suited to public library collections. They are easily cleaned and thus stay fresh and inviting after lots of handling by lots of children. There are currently two titles in this conceptual series, Colors and Counting. Karen Katz has created a similarly well-designed series of lift-the flap books that stand up to enthusiastic use by multiple children. Her kewpie-doll toddlers can be found searching for their mothers (Where Is Baby’s Mommy?), their toys (Where Is Baby’s Beach Ball?), and even their body parts (Where Is Baby’s Belly Button?).

The Content: Familiar or Unexpected

For a young child just beginning to identify herself within the larger world context, seeing familiar events and routines represented between the covers of a book can be both reassuring and delightful. Mary Murphy depicts everyday toddler activities with the help of a penguin parent and child in her board book I Like It When…. The young listener and her grownup can play out the text as it is read by joining in when the penguins hold hands, play peek-a-boo, dance together, and kiss good night. Although initially unfamiliar to the young child, dinosaurs seem to hold some inherent fascination for kids of all ages. Byron Barton’s Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs offers an engaging but not-too-frightening introduction to these giant reptiles. His simple shapes, saturated colors, and understated text render the beasts less than terrifying even when they have “long sharp claws” and “long sharp teeth.” A side note: like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Color Zoo, and a number of other books mentioned here, Barton’s Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs was originally released in a trade edition and subsequently reissued in board book format. Not all trade picture books lend themselves to the board book transformation. In some cases the trim size is significantly, and unfortunately, smaller in the board book edition. Sometimes the details of the illustrations and even portions of the text are lost. However, a close examination of the copyright information should provide details on the publishing history and alert potential buyers to compare the board book with its original trade counterpart.

Putting It All Together

As you have probably discerned by now, the categories suggested above are by no means mutually exclusive. Board books can feature stories as well as concepts. Lilly’s Chocolate Heart by Kevin Henkes, for example, is a simple narrative tale that relies on prepositions of place (under, inside, behind, etc.) for its conceptual underpinnings. And depending upon the personalities of the young listener and your method of delivery, many board books can be stimulating, soothing, or both. Conversely, you may well find board books that expand the boundaries established by the categories listed here. For example, the illustrations in Tana Hoban’s White on Black and Black on White cannot be easily classified as either photographs or drawings. Hoban has used a photographic technique to produce bold silhouettes of familiar objects and lets those objects stand alone without benefit of any explanatory or identifying text. The categories, then, are simply tools to help you understand the board book world. Hopefully, they will assist you as you provide babies and toddlers with a wide variety of literary experiences—experiences that will nurture a love of books and reading, provide sensory stimulation, aid in developing vocabulary and an understanding of the world while creating a joyful connection between the young listener and his grownup.

Good Board Books
Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs (HarperFestival, 1994) by Byron Barton
Colors (Tiger Tales, 2009) by Emily Bolam
Counting (Tiger Tales, 2009) by Emily Bolam
Barnyard Dance! (Workman, 1993) by Sandra Boynton
Moo, Baa, La La La! (Little Simon, 1995) by Sandra Boynton
Color Zoo (HarperFestival, 1997) by Lois Ehlert
Time for Bed (Red Wagon, 1997) by Mem Fox; illus. by Jane Dyer
Lilly’s Chocolate Heart (Greenwillow/ HarperFestival, 2004) by Kevin Henkes
Kiss Good Night (Candlewick, 2004) by Amy Hest; illus. by Anita Jeram
Black on White (Greenwillow, 1993) by Tana Hoban
White on Black (Greenwillow, 1993) by Tana Hoban
Where Is Baby’s Beach Ball? (Little Simon, 2009) by Karen Katz
Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? (Little Simon, 2009) by Karen Katz
Where Is Baby’s Mommy? (Little Simon, 2009) by Karen Katz
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Holt, 2006) by Bill Martin Jr.; illus. by Eric Carle
Baby Faces (Little Simon, 2009) by Margaret Miller
I Like It When… (Red Wagon, 2005) by Mary Murphy
All Fall Down (Little Simon, 1999; Walker Books, 2009) by Helen Oxenbury
Clap Hands (Little Simon, 1999; Walker Books, 2009) by Helen Oxenbury
Say Goodnight (Little Simon, 1999; Walker Books, 2009) by Helen Oxenbury
Tickle, Tickle (Little Simon, 1999; Walker Books, 2009) by Helen Oxenbury

The post What Makes a Good Board Book? appeared first on The Horn Book.