Books for the Very Small

Board books for perfect for the clumsy hands of babies and toddlers – here’s a few newer ones I’ve tripped across.

One, Two, Cockatoo
by Sarah Garson
Andersen Press
ISBN: 978 1 84939 233 4

One after another, cockatoos join together to have a fun time in this rhyming book for youngsters learning to count. It’s a simple book, as counting books often are, but illustrated with really charming, happy little birds playing under beautiful watercolour skies.

A surprise twist at the end wraps up this nice little package. Sweet!

Who Do I See?
by Salina Yoon
Robin Corey Books
ISBN: 978 0 375 87309 6

Kids love guessing books. The anticipation, the interactive aspect, and of course, being right! This simple, bright little board book has die-cut circles that give a glimpse of an animal and allow a child to guess what’s hiding on the next page, with the help of a clue that reinforces colour learning. Whose orange and black stripes do I see? Turning the page is always a treat, not only for the answer, but also for the nice, bold pictures and repetition of the identifying colours. The prismatic sparkliness of some of the colours will only make kids love it more – and parents won’t even mind, because it’s not done with the glitter, so it won’t shed! Perfection.

Zoom
by Simms Taback
Blue Apple Books
ISBN: 978 1 60905 007 8

I’ve been hiding this extra-small board book from my two-year-old boy, who is a major things-with-wheels fanatic. It’s the simplest of picture books, with a labelled vehicle on each page, drawn in Simms Taback’s trademark quirky style. Simple as it might be, though, it’s got some fun and less common modes of transportation in it (scooter? wheelbarrow?), and those recognizable  pictures are nice and bold, so it’s sure to be a hit.

Little Blue and Little Yellow
by Leo Lionni
Knopf
ISBN: 978 0 375 87290 7

This one may have you saying, “Hey, that’s not new!” and you’d be right – it’s not a new book, it’s a great little classic that is newly released in board format, and about time! This sweet story of friendship is a great one for young kids, and not only because I’m a sucker for a story about great friends. It also teaches about mixing colours, and even contains a wonderfully subtle message about mixed families and being friends with anyone. This just makes me happy, this does.