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.
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.
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.
The cover image does not do this beauty justice – you need to see it for yourself in all its shiny ruby glory!!
It’s almost my Jen’s birthday – she would have been turning 40 on 22nd of this month and how apt it is to be able to review this as it was the first book I ever bought her (and later on all the subsequent titles).
Spot’s charm is timeless and all little people love to follow the playful pup as they search through the ‘lift-the-flaps’. It is arguably the favourite of its kind for all little readers over so many years.
Perfect for sharing and encouraging curiosity and imagination it will be the seed of a whole Spot collection for many of a new generation.
I don’t have any little ones in the family any more but not surprisingly I’m pretty sure for special reasons this one will stay on my own shelf – perhaps our girl will grow up and have a little one of her own and she can give her Mum’s favourite to her own child.
It doesn’t need any recommendation from me but of course you must have it in your collection – your littlest readers will love to get their hands on it!
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