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GREAT BOOKS FOR BABIES & TODDLERS click
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A sample of books from "Great Books for Babies and Toddlers"
Arranged by age
Black on White/White on Black by Tana Hoban. Ages Newborn-2
years old
Infants respond visually more to contrast and patterns than to colors,
which make these two small books perfect for them. Plus, the books are
visually stunning in their own right. In Black on White, black silhouettes
of familiar items stand out against a shiny white background, starting
with a bib, then a fork and spoon. Most of the ojbects have simple contours
although the butterfly is intricate and lovely. White on Black reverses
the process, with white objects against a shiny black background. It opens
with a baby bottle and toy horse, and ends with striking white silhouettes
of an apple and banana. Talk with your baby about the pictures, trace the
outlines with your fingers, even prop the books open while you are changing
your child, as you start to make books part of your infant's daily life.
My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie, editor. Illustrated
by Rosemary Wells. Ages Newborn and up
For this gem among Mother Goose books, noted British folklorist Iona Opie
has chosen more than sixty familiar and lesser-known Mother Goose rhymes.
In an oversized format, with large print, charming watercolors illustrate
the verses. Rosemary Wells's characteristic endearing rabbits mingle with
well-dressed pigs, cats, and plump people. She gives new images to old
poems, such as rabbits in an old-fashioned roadster who are driving an
urbane pig for the rhyme, "To market, to market, to buy a fat pig."
Everything about this large book is amusing or cozy. Young children will
want to hear it and look at it again and again. A top-notch baby gift,
but sure to please toddlers, too. The companion volume Here Comes Mother
Goose is also delightful.
Time for Bed by Mem Fox. Illustrated by Jane Dyer. Ages
Newborn and up
A nearly perfect combination of word and text, this has become a
favorite in many families. The hardcover version is unusually large,
providing generous space for the lovely watercolors of animals at
night. For the very young, the words will be the main attraction,
so the board book will work until they are old enough to appreciate
the larger illustrations. "It's time for bed, little mouse,
little mouse/Darkness is falling all over the house," chants
the opening line, setting the gentle pattern and rhythm for the
whole book. A soft-furred mouse is curled over a baby mouse whose
eyes are not yet open. Then comes a fluffy baby goose and graceful
parent under a glorious, star-studded night sky. The final pictures
show a curly-haired child tucked in and falling asleep. Read this
to your newborn child and later share the exquisite artwork with
your toddler.
All Fall Down/Clap Hands/Say Goodnight/Tickle, Tickle by
Helen Oxenbury. Ages 6 mos-2 years old
Four of the best board books ever published, these first came out in 1987
and then with new, brighter covers in 1999. They were created as board
books, larger than most, and they suit the format perfectly. They also
beautifully convey topics of interest to babies in very brief texts and
utterly irresistible pictures. Fat little babies with different skin colors
and amounts of hair tumble around together in All Fall Down, singing
and bouncing with joy. Clap Hands features the same cuddly children, clapping,
eating, banging pots, and waving. Say Goodnight moves from swinging
to sleeping, while Tickle Tickle will delight children with its
pictures of babies in mud, then in the tub, and finally being gently tickled.
The set of four, or any one of these, makes a terrific baby gift.
Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker. Ages 6
mos-2 years old
This of this delightful book, which opens with the words, "1,
2, buckle my shoe," as a nursery rhyme rather than a lesson
in counting. The very young will learn to count eventually, but
right now they can simply enjoy this rhyming text with engaging
pictures. An assortment of large hens and their chicks glow with
color against a reddish-gold background, as the hens peer near-sightedly
at worms, snails, and other small creatures. Meanwhile, the chicks
hatch from their eggs and explore their surroundings. The final
pages burst with the crowd of hens and dozens of hatched eggs. Popular
with groups and for reading one-on-one, this is a treat.
Baby Says by John Steptoe. Ages 6
mos and up
A smiling baby graces the cover of this little book about young
siblings. It opens with the baby sitting in a playpen while an older
brother plays with blocks nearby. The baby, who could be a boy or
girl, gently tosses a teddy bear out of the playpen and says, "Uh,
oh." The older child gives it back, But guess what? The baby
sends it over again. This time the older brother returns the bear
with the words, "No, no," but then relents and lifts the
baby out of the playpen. The boy's patience is tried again but his
kindness overcomes his annoyance, and the two end up playing together.
The soft colored-pencil pictures, which show the children as African-American,
are expressive but simple enough for the very young.
Dear Zoo by Robert Campbell. Ages 9
mos and up
While the sturdy flaps may not last long with young children, try
this book anyway. Unlike many books that use flaps, this one integrates
them perfectly into the story. Each left-hand page reads, "I
wrote to the zoo to send me a pet. They sent me an..." The
opposing page shows a yellow crate marked "Very Heavy!"
Open the crate, which is formed by a flap, and see an elephant.
"He was too Big! I sent him back." This establishes the
pattern, with the zoo sending other animals hidden behind different
colored crate doors. Each animal has a problem and must be sent
back. Some of the flaps have cut-out squares that form windows,
giving a hint of the animal within. In the end, the zoo finally
sends the right animal, a puppy. "I kept him," reads the
last line. An unusually clever use of flaps, and a repetitive story
that suits the very young.
Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming. Ages 12
mos and up
Distinctive illustrations replete with color and texture raise this barnyard
book above many others. Its rhyming text works unusually well, too, inviting
children to imitate the animals and soon join in the entire text. "Cows
in the pasture, moo, moo, moo./Roosters in the barnyard, cock-a-doodle-doo."
After several animals make their noises, the same question occurs, "But
where's Goose?" Children will notice and start looking for the goose
that appears somewhere in every picture. The illustrations created from
paper pulp in delicious hues exude energy, culminating in two large pictures,
drenched in sunny yellow, of the goose honking and the words, "There's
Goose!" An outstandingly beautiful book matched by an appealing text.
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle. Ages 12
mos and up
Read this outstanding book when your child is old enough and in
the mood to move! "I am a penguin and I turn my head. Can you
do it?" begins the series of meetings between animals and children,
illustrated in vibrant collages set in generous white space. The
child replies to the penguin, "I can do it!" and turns
her head. The wonderfully wrought animals dominate the pages: giraffe,
buffalo, seal, gorilla, cat, crocodile, and more. The actions progress
from heading turning and neck bending to leg kicking and foot stomping.
Calming down, the final two pages show a child saying, "I am
I and I wiggle my toe. Can you do it?" Be ready for arm waving
and hand clapping and chest thumping. Try to get this in paperback
rather than the board book for full appreciation of the pictures.
Not to be missed.
Come Along, Daisy by Jane Simmons. Ages
18 mos and up
Meet Daisy, a curious little duck who wants to explore the pond.
Ignoring her mother's gentle comment, "Come along, Daisy,"
Daisy watches fish, chases dragonflies, meets a frog, and jumps
from lily pad to lily pad. When the frog leaves, Daisy suddenly
wants her mother, who is nowhere in sight. The pond now seems a
bit ominous, and the sound of something coming closer creates dramatic
tension. The relief is palpable when it turns out to be Daisy's
mother. Radiant, oversized paintings show Daisy as a slightly clumsy,
very lovable young duck. An excellent start to a series of books
about Daisy. Skip the board book edition of this, which skips parts
of the story.
A Hat for Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke. Ages 18
mos and up
The hen Minerva Louise has her own way of looking at the world.
While the other hens in the henhouse don't like snow, Minerva
Louise does and goes out exploring. But she is cold, and realizes
that if she had clothes like the scarecrow's, she could stay out
longer. She makes wonderfully silly mistakes as she looks for clothes
that will have children giggling. She tries on workgloves, thinking
they are shoes, and a clay pot that looks like a hat. The neatly
drawn yet funny pictures add to her personality, especially when
she struts back to the henhouse wearing the hat she has so cleverly
improvised. One in a delightful series.
My Car by Byron Barton. Ages 18 mos
and up
Eye-catching colors set against a cheerful yellow background introduce
Sam and his car, which resembles a Volkswagen Beetle. Sam loves
his red car with its purple tires and green hubcaps. In brief text,
Sam explains how he cares for it: "I keep my car clean. My
car needs oil." A purple-clad woman changes his oil, then Sam
fills the gas tank. Young vehicle fans will enjoy the picture that
separates the car out into its basic parts, with labels attached.
The book follows Sam as he drives at night and in rain. In an unexpected
twist, when he drives to work, it turns out that Sam is a city bus
driver. Although simple, the illustrations vary enough to stay interesting.
An outstanding book, not just for toddlers fascinated by cars.
Spots, Feathers, and Curly Tails by Nancy Tafuri. Ages 18
mos and up
In this creative book aimed at just the right level for young children,
Tafuri makes a guessing game out of animals' features. She supplies
enough clues to make the answer possible, starting with the question,
"What has spots?" accompanied by a picture showing only
the back and tail of a black-and-white cow. A full-size cow spreads
across the next double-page spread, with the answer in large type,
"A cow has spots." The generous size of the book lends
itself to Tafuri's pen-and-watercolor pictures, just right for using
with a group as well as one-on-one. An outstanding book for involving
young listeners.
Toddlerobics by Zita Newcome. Ages 18
mos and up
Eight toddlers wait in line with their parents, grandparents, or
caretakers on the title page of this book. Then, "Hats off,
coats off, all rush in—everybody ready for toddler gym!"
Get ready to have your child leave your lap and start joining in
the fun. First, the smiling children touch their "Heads and
shoulders, knees and toes. Eyes and ears, mouth and nose."
Then the multiethnic group in their colorful playtime clothes flap
their arms, jump, stretch, and bend down to touch their toes. Sometimes
touching each other, sometimes spread against the white background,
these toddlers will inspire listeners to try out the exercises.
Like real children, the characters don't always get it right—they
can't quite form a choo-choo train—but they have a great time
trying. Just the book when you want to get your young one moving.
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley. Ages 2
and up
This book is brilliant in its simplicity, design, and understanding
of children. It begins, "Big Green Monster has two big yellow
eyes," on a page that is black except for cut-out holes that
show yellow eyes. Using cut-outs, each page adds a feature to the
monster: long nose, big red mouth, squiggly ears, and more. When
the monster is complete, the words declare, "YOU DON'T SCARE
ME!" and the book reverses direction, eliminating each feature
page by page. The final page, which is black, declares that the
monster won't come back, "Until I say so." A young child
has the pleasure of being frightened, while having control over
the monster's appearance. A highly satisfying picture book.
The Piggy in the Puddle by Charlotte Pomerantz. Illustrated
by James Marshall. Ages 2 and up
"Mud is squishy, mud is squashy/Mud is oh so squishy squashy,"
reads one of the rollicking rhymes in this terrific story. A pig
has jumped into the middle of a mud puddle, to the distress of her
family. She defies their orders to get out, telling her father,
"Squishy-squashy, squishy-squashy-NOPE!" Wonderfully amusing
pictures show the well-dressed pig family finally giving into the
inevitable. When they can't get her out of the mud, they jump in
to join her. A romp of a book, full of wordplay and inviting rhythms,
this may well become a family favorite.
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle. Ages
2 and up
Vibrant collages of hand-painted paper sweep across the pages of
this wide book. Under a huge sun, a cricket hatches from an egg.
A bigger cricket chirps a welcome by rubbing its wings together
to chirp, but when the little cricket imitates the action, nothing
happens. Different insects including a locust, praying mantis, spittlebug,
cicada, and dragonfly greet the little cricket, who still cannot
answer. Finally, to the delight of young listeners, the cricket
chirps, with the sound emerging from an embedded microchip. Not
Carle's most wonderful book, but still expect to read it again and
again.
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© 2003, Kathleen Odean, all rights reserved.
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