Tag Archives: board books

Feb13

Tjitji Lullaby – Michael Ross and Zaachariaha Fielding/Original artwork by Lisa Kennedy

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Harper Collins Australia

November 2022

  • ISBN: 9780733342783
  • ISBN 10: 0733342787
  • Imprint: ABC Books AU
  • List Price: 19.99 AUD

Many readers will already be familiar with this favourite lullaby which features on ABC Kids and what a truly beautiful way to complete a day with your little peeps it is. Now you can also share this stunning board book with even the tiniest of humans with its lyrical text, our wonderful native animals and landscapes and the soothing comfortableness of recognition.

Tjitji (child in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara languages) Lullaby is the creation of the multiple award-winning Electric Dreams partnership. Michael Ross, producer and Zaachariaha Fielding, who regularly sings in his own Anangu language. Their unique fusion of electronic music and traditional culture has garnered acclaim across the world and spans music genres from eloquent pop ballads to contemporised traditional music. AFL fans will recognise their sound from the Dreamtime Round.

Their lullaby created for ABC Kids has literally struck a chord with all who hear it. Lisa Kennedy, First Nations storyteller/artist has brought the musical version of the lullaby to glorious full colour with her evocative illustrations, underlining the serenity and calm that a sunset merging to night sky provides. It is not only special because of its innate beauty but of course, a very simple way to introduce cross-cultural perspectives from an early age. And on this day, the 15th Anniversary of the National Apology, it seemed timely to post my review of this charming book.

What a superb gift this makes for any new jarjum in your circle or as an addition to your collection for Early Childhood readers. I cannot recommend it highly enough to you.

For another insight into First Nations lullabies check here for one in the language of my children and grandchildren, Wiradjuri.

Nov14

Spot’s Slide-and-Seek Farm

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Penguin Australia

January 2023

Publisher

Penguin Random House Children’s Uk | Puffin

ISBN 9780241560556

If you have little humans in your family or circle, they are going to love these new additions to the Spot collection. The very first Spot lift-the-flap, the classic Where’s Spot?, was published in 1980 and, as I’ve mentioned before when I reviewed the anniversary edition was the first book I bought The Kid’s mum, when she was a baby, so Spot has a very special place in my heart.

These sturdy board books are perfect for the ‘slide’ reveal and we know that all little kids are fascinated with farm life and animals. I particularly love that the sliders that move outside the page edges have a little surprise on the other side and not just plain background.

Why not buy the other titles at the same time as you pick up this one? The munchkins will thank you!

Highly recommended for babies up to Prep so pre-order now.

Apr5

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Bug Hunt: a lift-and-learn book

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Penguin Australia

  • April 2022
  • ISBN: 9780241553503
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Board Book
  • RRP: $14.99
You know when you put together the art and charm of Eric Carle and lift-the-flap fun, you have a winning combination. When that fun becomes learning as well, it’s a beautiful bonus.

Your littlest readers are going to love this. Every page is pure classic Carle and the fact that there are several flaps on each spread will just send them into paroxysms of squealing joy. Aside from finding the mini-critters, you can focus on some prepositions and rhyme – what more could you want? Well of course, just delight in reading :-).

I anticipate this will be a read-aloud on high rotation in many homes and libraries too. Whether you have a little one to buy for, or a creche, playgroup or kinder – or your Preppies – this will make a super addition and a terrific springboard to some nature observations.

Feb20

Spot Goes to the Park – Eric Hill

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Penguin Australia

March 2022

ISBN: 9780241517499
ISBN-10: 0241517494
Publisher: Penguin UK Imprint: Puffin

RRP: $18.99

Honestly, I could enjoy Spot for another 40 years. The first book I ever bought my youngest child, The Kid’s mummy (born 1980, the same year as Spot!) was Where’s Spot?, so this little pup has a soft spot in my heart forever.

This is a new edition of a previously published board book and, of course, it’s lovely to re-visit favourites when they are dressed in fresh colours. Little humans’ joy in the repeated ‘surprise’ of lifting the flaps to see the next happy moment in Spot’s day just never gets tired. I only wish I had knew some tiny person with whom I could share it!.

If you know someone with a new baby, or expecting one, this is going to be a lovely gift. If you have an audience of tiny tots, it’s a must have. Just watch their eyes light up and their cries of delight at each reveal.

Not sure who will be the lucky recipient of this review copy but perhaps just a mum or dad at my local coffee hang out, where reading is valued and strollers are abundant.

Don’t hesitate – buy this one now!

Jan9

Two for Littlies – lift-the-flap board books

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Where’s George’s Dinosaur? a lift-the-flap book

Penguin Australia

  • January 2022
  • ISBN: 9780241543542
  • Imprint: Ladybird
  • Format: Board Book
  • RRP: $14.99

We all know two sure things – little ones love lift-the-flap books – and the thirst for Peppa Pig and family never diminishes!

George’s dinosaur is missing – where can it be? – so Mummy and Peppa help him look for the missing toy. Of they go, back-tracking their day… could Mr Dinosaur have been left at the zoo? There’s a tip of a tail that looks just like his – but no. Maybe when they went on the train?? Could he be at the castle?? They have had a busy day so they really need to look everywhere.

Your smalls will love the giggly surprises of lifting the flaps to see who is hiding and giggle even more when Mr Dinosaur is finally found.

With its foiled cover and the always bright colours of the Peppa Pig illustrations, this is a guaranteed hit and would make a lovely gift too.

Eric Carle’s Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Other Nursery Rhymes: a lift-the-flap book

Penguin Australia

  • January 2022
  • ISBN: 9780593224311
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Board Book
  • RRP: $19.99

Many years ago when I first started teaching Year 1 (the first year at school) we always kicked off with nursery rhymes as our topic/theme because it was something with which most little kids had some familiarity so could be engaged. Then it seemed that over the years the numbers of kids knowing nursery rhymes dropped markedly. So for me, books like this are a godsend really because the combination of Eric Carle, lift-the-flap and the rhymes makes for a win for little ones who benefit so very much from the rhythm and rhyme of traditional nursery offerings.

...revisit five classic nursery rhymes: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” “Hickory Dickory Dock,” “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider,” and “The Wheels on the Bus.”

I’m very much in love with this (as I am with anything Eric Carle – what a loss to us all *sad face*)……….and again, this would make a very beautiful and much-loved gift for a new baby or little person in your circle.

Feb28

Welcome, Child! – Sally Morgan

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Magabala Books

March 2021

ISBN 9781925936025

RRP: $12.99

Of course this is not the first book to celebrate the love with which they are received into their family for our littlest of readers, but it is one that specifically allows for our youngest First Australians to recognise themselves.

Sally Morgan’s simple but beautiful text, accompanied as it is with riotously colourful illustrations, is utterly exquisite and touching.

Stars alight, singing birds and dancing flowers combine to welcome the new child with all the warmth and unconditional love that families feel when they first embrace their child.

  Birds sing songs of delight to greet you.
    Flowers dance with joy to celebrate you.

Without doubt this would make a beautiful and much-appreciated gift for any newborn of your acquaintance, and one that will bring great joy with each repeated reading.

If you have a new little human in your circle, or indeed expecting one this delightful and vibrant board book will make a perfect welcome present.

Highly recommended for tiny peeps from birth onwards.

Sep27

That’s Not My Wombat – Fiona Watt/Rachel Wells

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Harper Collins Australia

September 2020

  • ISBN: 9781474980470
  • ISBN 10: 1474980473
  • Imprint: Usborne – GB
  • List Price: 14.99 AUD

I can tell you something about the Usborne Touchy-Feely books – it’s not just the little ones who love these! The Narwhal version I included in my recent Book Bonanza to celebrate Book Week was the most highly sought after ‘lucky dip’ out of all 50 books on offer – and the year 8 girl who won it was absolutely ecstatic!!

The patches of texture included in each illustration whether shiny, fuzzy, smooth or fluffy will delight the littlest readers as they touch each special spot encouraging their sensory awareness as well as vocabulary.

This is such a cute little series for babies and toddlers – and of course, wombats are particularly endearing so this is bound to be a real hit with the teeny ones. I’ll be popping this one into a parcel for a friend expecting her first baby and I’m sure it will be very well received. Why not include it in your next baby shower parcel?

Jul26

A batch of board books

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My Best Friend is a Dragon – Rachael McLean

Penguin Australia

  • August 2020
  • ISBN: 9780593093993
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • RRP: $13.99

The first of this batch of books for the tiniest reads is this delightful and gloriously vibrant lift-the-flap story.

What could be better than having a magical dragon as your best friend? This little boy romps through the pages with his dragon helping out with stuff like getting the lid off the cookie jar and when snow makes play difficult. Little ones will love lifting the flaps to see the solution to each problem.

With simple text and joyful illustrations this would be a hit for tiny humans from around 12 months upwards.

Ten Sleep Sheep – Renee Treml

Penguin Australia

  • August 2020
  • ISBN: 9781760896768
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • RRP: $14.99

Renee’s books are always beautiful with their gentle and heart-warming illustrations and this lovely counting book is no exception. Little ones can count down from ten as they visit all the sleepy animals on the farm. From ten sheep through pups and foals, chicks and ducklings even koalas until no one is left awake except the owl. What a beautiful bedtime book this is and will no doubt be requested time and again.

A gorgeously sleepy-time book perfect for babies upwards.

That’s Not My Narwhal – Fiona Watt

Harper Collins Australia

July 2020

  • ISBN: 9781474972109
  • ISBN 10: 1474972101
  • Imprint: Usborne – GB
  • List Price: 14.99 AUD

Usborne continues the popular touchy-feely series with this new one which is just as cute as the previous but just a little more unusual in choosing an animal perhaps not so well known.

Little fingers will love the textures from the squishy tummy to the rough tail and the fuzzy spots. Their eyes will sparkle just as much as the narwhal’s horn as they explore each page with tactile delight.

Little ones from 12 months upwards will think this one a real treat.

Is there anything as much fun as introducing these little ones to the joy and wonder of books and reading? I think not.

Pick up these for a tiny one in your circle or for your early learning centre or kindergarten.

May30

Let’s Go Under the Sea – Petr Horacek

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Walker Books Australia

April 2020

ISBN: 9781406388800
Imprint: Walker
Australian RRP: $12.99
New Zealand RRP: $14.99

I’ve had the joy of some truly lovely board books recently and this one is another that will prove a favourite with any tiny human with whom you share it.

While very simple in its text the vibrant illustrations accompanied by the ‘peep through’ interaction will delight any little reader as they begin to explore the wonderful underwater world with colourful fish including a little clown fish just like Nemo and a gorgeous aquamarine dolphin.

This is one of the Baby Walker range which is specifically designed to engage the tiniest of little ones from an early age and inspire their love of books and reading as they grow.

It would make a beautiful gift for a newborn or any little person up to around 3 years old particularly, not to mention a super addition for any early learning centre.

Highly recommended for 0 – 3 years old.

Apr10

Elmer – David McKee

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elmer

Walker Books Australia

March 2020

ISBN: 9781783449910
Imprint: Andersen Press
Australian RRP: $14.99
New Zealand RRP: $16.99

Celebrating 30 magical years of Elmer is this gorgeous board book with a special gold-embossed cover. This is the original Elmer story that started it all for all of us who love this adorable, wise and colourful elephant.

This much-loved patchwork elephant has been delighting little readers with all his adventures for the past three decades and I dare say that there would be very few Kindy or Prep classrooms that have not made him and his stories a focus of a learning unit – of course accompanied by many works of art.

Invariably it is the underlying theme of acceptance and embracing of differences that is a key factor in the choice of using these stories in the classroom but their beauty goes well beyond that. Small children relate to Elmer and his various antics so readily and with such joy.

This beautiful board book edition will ensure that even the tiniest of readers can enjoy the vibrancy of the illustrations as well as hearing the story.

Why not plan a birthday party for Elmer for your own class? With so many stories as well as the plethora of teaching resources that abound it would make for a joyful experience for your little humans.

It goes without saying that I highly recommend this as a start up especially for a brand new reader-in-the-making of your acquaintance.

Enjoy David McKee reading this first in the series: