Board books are smaller — just right for little hands — strongly constructed, contain beginning concepts and finger activities for young learners. Many also include lift-the-flaps and other beginning concepts for young readers. Following are a few of the new board books for sharing with little readers:
“SHERLOCK HOLMES: In the Hound of Baskervilles — A BabyLit Sounds Primer,” “ANNA KARENINA: A BabyLit Fashion Primer,” and “JABBERWOCKY: A BabyLit Nonsense Primer,” by Jennifer Adams and illustrated by Alison Oliver, Gibbs Smith, $9.99 each (ages 3 and up)
This trio of board books by Salt Lake City author Jennifer Adams is the newest for her BabyLit series, which uses stories from classic literature to teaching concepts like weather, counting and opposites. “Sherlock Holmes” matches sounds with the what makes the noise (“hounds” and “howl”). “Anna Karenina” identifies different pieces of clothing with another object to find and is sprinkled with quotes. “Jabberwocky” is filled with phrases, some of which make sense and others that don’t, but are fun to say.
Author Jennifer Adams will be doing a book signing 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, at the King's English Bookshop.
"SPOT THE DOT," by David A. Carter, Scholastic, $12.99 (ages 3-5)
David Carter, an accomplished paper engineer, combines flaps for lifting and searching, turning wheels, pull tabs and a giant pop-up to introduce colors. On one page, dozens of cut-out shapes change color with a wheel to “spot the blue dot.” The final two-page pop-up is an extravaganza of color with dozens of punky circles and “spot the black dot.” Eye-popping color and strong construction makes this a book, which is due out Sept. 24, to be enjoyed time after time.
"AT THE BEACH," by Elizabeth Spurr, illustrated by Manelle Oliphant, Peachtree, $6.95 (ages 2-4)
This is one in a series of small board books that follow a young boy’s outdoor excursions. In "At the Beach,” the child pats sand and sticks into a birthday cake until “Splash! Crash!” a wave causes “Cake smashed.” Each scene uses simple word clues for a read-it-again experience. Also in the series are “In the Garden” and “In the Woods.”
"BRING ON THE BIRDS" (board edition), by Susan Stockdale, Peachtree, $6.95 (ages 2-5)
First published in picture book format, Stockdale introduces 21 different kinds of birds: “skimming birds, swimming birds, birds with tails held high...” From brightly colored peacocks to humming birds are framed with the concluding statement “All have feathers and hatch from eggs." The small size and durable pages make this a favorite for sit-on-my-lap sharing time.
"ARLO’S ARTrageous ADVENTURE!" by David Larochelle, Sterling Children's Books, $14.95 (ages 3-8)
Arlo’s trip on an art adventure isn’t by choice. It's: “We’re going to the art museum, whether you like it or not!”
When the lion sculpture outside the entrance grins at him and the paintings in the galleries begin coming to life, Arlo is most excited. As the reader lifts the 50 flaps, unusual things seem to appear; a modern art piece becomes a forked tongue and a bathing lady appears in an ancient crock. A teddy bear is found in a mummy case, and monkeys are hidden in numerous drawings and display cases. There’s such a variety of surprises, readers will read and flip the flaps time after time. They may even ask for a trip to an art museum, hoping to find a surprise or two.
"OPPOSITES," by Xavier Deneux, Chronicle/Handprint, $14.99 (age 3 and up)
Extra raised cardboard pieces on the left page correspond to the same embedded shapes on the right page that represent opposite concepts. For example, “heavy” (and elephant shape) is opposite to “light” (the shape of a cloud). Concepts include animals and objects from nature. “Opposites” is a delightful book for fingers and eyes to explore.
"HAVE YOU SEEN BUNNY?" by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, illustrated by Michelle Berg, Hodder & Stoughton/Orchard, $7.99 (up to age 3)
A new edition in the Go Baby! line is “Have You Seen Bunny?” which encourages young readers to lift flaps trying to find Bunny in time for his afternoon snack. Several animals are hidden, including Badger under a rock and a pink flower flap hides Lamb. Readers will be relieved that Bunny is found and does get his afternoon tea just in time to "hide" him again. Others in the series include: “Have You Seen Puppy?” and “Have You Seen Kitty?”
Grosset & Dunlap publishers are teaming with Sassy, a marketer of baby hygiene items, toys and feeding supplies, to publish four new board book titles. Each is illustrated by Dave Aikins and appropriate to age 3.
"BABY SEES: A First Book of Faces," $6.99: Black, white and contrasting colors that newborns are mostly able to focus on are combined with images of “Mommy!” “Daddy!” and other everyday objects. An embedded mirror is found on the final page so babies can see themselves.
"WHO SAYS?" $6.99: The youngest reader will learn about the sounds that different animals make from simple, brightly illustrated pictures.
"BABY’S WORLD: A First Book of Senses," $7.99: With flaps to lift and textures to feel, this book is perfect to begin learning about the five senses.
"BABY LOVES COLORS," $6.99: Six colors — red, yellow, orange, green and blue — are used to illustrate simple pictures, with raised edges to accent the shape of each. Baby will learn tacitly as well as by sight with this board book.
Email: marilousorensen@ymail.com