Here are four more delightful board books that are worth a closer look. In these featured books each title and the interior pages frame a question/pattern. What a terrific way to provide a template for asking and answering questions. They also range from concrete observational and eye-popping photographic images to realistic illustrations with a bit of a riddle story structure, to laugh-out-loud cartoon-style guessing games, and on to lyrical responses to an otherwise science-y question, using figurative language and emotional engagement.
"The twinkle of a faraway star...
The buzzing of a firefly captured in a jar...
And then that feeling when you let go...
That spark in your eyes is like a glow."
WHOSE BUM is created by Chris Tougas. As the book blurb says, it's "A cheeky guessing game for baby."
The colorful cartoon-like figures pose a repeating pattern of question and answer for each page turn.
Whose bum? ______________'s bum! This is a giggle-inducing pattern that will encourage tots to try independent "reading" of the familiar language while building a vocabulary of familiar nouns.
WHO CAN? is written by Charles Ghigna and illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen. Not only does this book use full sentences to provide verbal clues, it uses simple follow-up language, "Who can?" "Who does?" Who stirs? "Who knows?" "Who reads?"
The final page turn concludes with a delightful twist:
"YOU DID!"
An important benefit is the way it naturally builds a sense of book conventions (noticing both visual and verbal cues, predicting, left-to-right patterns, and page turns). Note the sample pages above in which a very tiny toucan bill can be found in the treetop, virtually inviting the child to turn the page to celebrate the full image of a toucan. Stark white background allows little eyes to focus on the individual art images, to search out clues while hearing the lilting text:
"Who can fill his bill with tasty fish?"
Overall, this provides all the right elements for both lap time and independent exploration after initial readings.
Finally, TAILS, by Flowerpot Press does not use a question on the cover, but alternating spreads pose questions about various animal tails and their traits:
"Who has a ___________ tail..."
including adjectives like striped, scaly, and flat.
The question pages use pure white backgrounds, large and simple font on the left spread while featuring a portion of the animal rump/tail on the right side, again leading right into a page turn. Those "answer" pages provide the animal name and the double spreads reveal stunning color photographs that bleed to the edges of both pages.
These are bound to be favorites among the lucky little ones who receive them as gifts or have them checked out of the library by a caring adult. And don't worry about damage, since these are all very well-constructed and have glossy, durable, wipable page finishes.
