Fall Board Book Round-up, Part III
Here are the final entries in the Fall 2023 series of columns on new board books. See Board Book Round-up, Part I here: Fall Board Book Round-up, Part I (bayviews.org), and Board Book Round-up, Park II here: Fall Board Book Round-up, Part II (bayviews.org)
More New Board Book Series Entries
Ajmera, Maya. Global Baby Grandparents. Global Babies series. Charlesbridge, 01/2024. [18p.] $6.99. 978-1-62354-453-9.
The newest in this series of color photos from various countries show babies with a grandparent. Each page includes the name of the country, and a short phrase that is part of a sentence celebrating a grandparent’s love. Another winner from this inclusive series.
Bishop, Gavin. Look: A Tummy Time Book. Gecko Press, 08/2023. [24p.] $16.99. 978-1-77657-501-5.
Maori author/illustrator Bishop offers an unusual board book containing one long accordion page. Each wordless page features one face, from babies to adults, representing a wide array of ethnicities. One page includes a woman with a traditional chin tattoo. On the other side are single items that a baby can recognize, include a doll and a dog. The full color graphic style artwork is pleasant but overall this may not stand up to library circulation.
Braun, Sebastien. Baby on Board: Car. Templar, 09/2023. [8p.] $9.99. 978-1-5362-3258-5.
Braun, Sebastien. Baby on Board: Train. Templar, 09/2023. [8p.] $9.99. 978-1-5362-3259-2.
This new series celebrates various methods of transportation, using a brief rhyming, repetitive text and tabs to push and pull. Each sentence begins “All aboard the baby car” or train, and describes actions such as windshield wipers on the car, or the whistle on the train. The full color artwork shows various animals in clothing as the participants. These are very sturdy and should hold up to library use, although they are not really memorable. In June 2024, two new entries will focus on airplanes and tractors.
Patricelli, Leslie. Snow! Candlewick, 09/2023. [26p.] $8.99. 978-1-5362-1984-5.
The 28th book in this joyful series features two babies – one white and one Black, playing in the snow. One page shows them naked (just their backsides) getting ready for a bath. The full color cartoon artwork and brief rhyming text tell a realistic story. There are also captions naming various items pictured, which can help grow vocabulary. A great choice, even for those in areas that don’t see snow.
Urban, Chieu Anh. Illusions in Art: Animals. Candlewick, 10/2023. [28p.] $12.99. 978-1-5362-2370-5.
Urban, Chieu Anh. Illusions in Art: Food. Candlewick, 10/2023. [28p.] $12.99. 978-1-5362-2371-2.
In these unusual board books, a graphic image of an item, such as an animal or piece of fruit, is shown. The accompanying verse gives a clue as to the main image and the smaller image within the first – the subtitle for the series is “Discover two images in one.” Even this adult could not always discern what the smaller image was representing, but the answer is in small print at the bottom of the page. The artwork resembles cut paper silhouette images in various colors, on different colored backgrounds. In some ways, these work as simple optical illusions, but this series seems best suited to children who can already read, not preschoolers.
Ward-Wills, Kelly. What Dwells in the Deep? Yikes! Discovery series. Illus. by Steve James. Eye of Newt Books, 2022. [24p.] $11.95. 978-1-7770817-9-9.
Ward-Wills, Kelly. What Lurks in the Dark? Yikes! Discovery series. Illus. by Steve James. Eye of Newt Books, 2023. [24p.] $11.95. 978-1-77779-182-7.
In these oversized board books published in Canada, animals that have a distinct aspect in common are described. For example, animals that are nocturnal such as a boreal owl, or creatures that live deep in the ocean such as an anglerfish, are given one page each. The paragraph of text and full color realistic illustration both seemed aimed at children old enough to read, but preschoolers may enjoy these if they are interested in animals. The final spread includes more information and each of the nine animals featured in each book. Because of the wide age appeal, these are worth purchasing.
New Spanish Board Books
Drago, Flavia Z. A Contar! Los Monstruos Juegan series.Candlewick, 09/2023. [20p.] $8.99. 978-1-5362-3330-8.
Drago, Flavia Z. Cucu! Los Monstruos Juegan series. Candlewick, 09/2023. [20p.] $8.99. 978-1-5362-3331-5.
In these translations of the original English versions, Counting and Playing are the focus. In Contar!!, the text counts body parts of different monsters one to ten, such as six arms. The rhyming text includes both the word for the number and the numeral, and the cartoon artwork resembles crayon drawings. The reader will also learn the name of the parts of the body, making this both fun and educational.
In Cucu! seven monsters are hidden under flaps. The lively text consists of the hidden monster asking who they are, and the answer is revealed under the flap, making a guessing game. The monsters are all Halloween-related, such as a werewolf or a vampire. Even non- Spanish speakers will find this fun.
Martinez-Neal, Juana. Alma and Her Family/Alma y su familia. Alma’s Words/Las Palabras de Alma series. Candlewick, 09/2023. [24p.] $8.99. 978-0-7636-9362-6.
Martinez-Neal, Juana. Alma Head to Toe/Alma, De Pies a Cabeza. Alma’s Words/Las Palabras de Alma series. Candlewick, 09/2023. [24p.] $8.99. 978-1-5362-2887-8.
Alma introduces the reader to her many loving family members, including cousins, a great aunt, and great-grandparents. Enjoyable for both English and Spanish speakers, the bilingual text takes up only one sentence each per page. The soft pastel and graphite artwork adds charm, making for a successful series.
In Alma Head to Toe, Alma describes the various names of her body parts. On the second page is a full-length cartoon of Alma, with the body parts labeled in both English and Spanish. The rest of the story shows Alma using those body parts.
Penny Peck, SJSU iSchool
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