Tag: lift the flap

Kisses, Kisses, Head to Toe! (Karen Katz)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Kisses, Kisses, Head to Toe! by Karen Katz, an adorable beginner board book about little bodies.

Head to toe, babies are so very kissable! The littlest bookworms and their caregivers can enjoy this chipper lift-the-flap tale that explores some of baby’s most kissable parts: nose, toes, belly buttons, and so on. A mirror on the last page lets little readers check out all of their own little features too.

Simple, sweet, adorable. From rhyming text to cuddly illustrations, Katz builds a great first “my body” board book for babies, creating a title that is interactive, visually engaging, and well-themed. A few minor complaints: while the illustrations feature a diversity of skintones, all of the caregivers do appear to be female-coded, which feels like a missed opportunity to show affectionate fathers. Also, the flaps are on the flimsy side, which can result in tearing when in overeager baby hands. These are minor quibbles, however; the book itself is still a great length for a very quick read, making it ideal for its intended audience, yet introduces babies to their bodies in a fun and entertaining way. JJ and I both had fun perusing it. Overall, a perfectly sweet board book, and Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Knock Knock, Trick or Treat!: A Spooky Halloween Lift-the-Flap Book (Amy E. Sklansky)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Knock Knock, Trick or Treat!: A Spooky Halloween Lift-the-Flap Book, written by Amy E. Sklansky and illustrated by Chiara Galletti, a fun board book for little ghouls and goblins.

Readers can enjoy a trick-or-treating adventure through a very spooky neighborhood in this Halloween-themed lift-the-flap monster mash. Each of ten front door flaps opens to the reveal a different creepy creature within: a werewolf, a zombie, a vampire, a cyclops, and more! At what appears to be a neighborhood gathering on the final page, readers are assured that these monstrous neighbors aren’t actually scary – after all, they love candy, just like you and me!

Festively cute. Monster fans will delight with the cast of beasties on display, especially lesser-used monsters like the cyclops (a word JJ really enjoyed learning). Galletti’s illustrations are marvelously detailed, adding tons of clever visual gags and Easter eggs that make each “home” and its occupant unique. The rhyming text is simple, has a great rhythm, and is fun to read aloud, even if the lines written on the instead of the flaps can be tricky to make out, especially if you open any of the double doors in the wrong order (plus, as any caregiver with lift-a-flap books knows, those rhymes will be long gone if the flap is torn off by a rambunctious young reader). Also, it was a strange choice that the book revolves around collecting candy through trick-or-treating, yet none of the monsters are offering candy when their doors are opened; its an odd choice that feels like a missed opportunity. Otherwise, the length is perfect for a quick storytime, and JJ enjoyed it. This was a fun and festive way to celebrate the spooky season – Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Nom Nom Nom: A Yummy Book with Flaps (Jeffrey Burton)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Nom Nom Nom: A Yummy Book with Flaps, written by Jeffrey Burton and illustrated by Sarah Hwang, a delightfully silly board book for young foodies.

Who’s hungry? Little bookworms are introduced to eight hungry creatures, each more exotic than the last, and given a few suggestions of what that critter might be craving. Two or three of the options are relatively normal, while one is a crazy concoction. As soon as kiddos choose what to feed their new famished friend, they can lift the flap and help the animal NOM NOM NOM its new treat!

Tons of fun. Excellent interactive elements pair perfectly with simple yet engaging text and adorable illustrations, making the entire reading experience a treat. JJ loved being able to pick out what to “feed” each animal (she always choose the outlandish or gross option, of course), and had a great giggle with each NOM NOM NOM flap. This is a simple concept executed very well, and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for very young readers, especially when shared with a caregiver. Perfect for a quick storytime, and we adored it. Overall, Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Meet Your School! (Cindy Jin)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Meet Your School!, written by Cindy Jin and illustrated by Melissa Crowton, an adorable interactive look at what makes a building a school.

With short rhyming couplets of text and a large cast of bipedal animals as students and staff, this lift-the-flap board book walks little readers through some of the common rooms found in a school. Bookworms follow the students of various species as they attend class, make projects in the art room, get active in the gym, eat their lunch in the cafeteria, and more. Along the way, there are secrets and surprises to explore behind the flaps, and fun details to find in the illustrations.

Delightful! From the cheerful, sweet illustrations that feature a variety of animal friends (including one in a wheelchair) to the bouncy rhymes that are easy and fun to read aloud, this makes for a great back-to-school read. The lift-the-flap theme lives up to its promise, and there are around 10 flaps to peek under on each two-page spread, letting readers peek into cabinets and drawers, behind doors and windows, and even just showing motion and activity in the classrooms. It’s a quick read, but JJ had a blast checking out all the flaps and exploring the different school rooms. This is a wonderfully fun way to celebrate the start of the school year, and we definitely recommend it – Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Oscar The Octopus: A Book About the Months of the Year (Matthew Van Fleet)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Oscar The Octopus: A Book About the Months of the Year by Matthew Van Fleet, an aquatic, interactive adventure for little bookworms.

Readers follow the mostly unseen – save for his tentacles – Oscar as he spends the year catching a menagerie of sea creatures (it’s never directly explained what he DOES with the creatures he captures, and eventually they are all released). With each page dedicated to a month of the year, a touch-and-feel element – along with the text – gives the reader a clue as to what creature Oscar has caught this time; a lift-the-flap and label reveals the various sea animals, such as lionfish, sea otters, sharks, cuttlefish and more. At last, when his year of fishing is done, Oscar feels a tickle in his nose. Letting loose a mighty sneeze, he releases his smiling collection of new friends back out into the sea.

Tons of fun. While the light story is a little confusing, and the subtitle a tad misleading (the subject matter has as much to do with sea animals, colors, and the touch-and-feel sensory elements as the months of the year), the final product is so much fun for little readers that it’s easily forgivable. JJ had an absolute blast feeling sticky cuttlefish tentacles and discovering furry penguin chicks, and begged to be read the story a second time the moment we finished – always a telling sign of how engaging a book is. Van Fleet’s illustrations strike a good balance between natural authenticity and cartoon appeal for each of the creatures, and the story is a brisk yet immensely entertaining read. A lovely addition to any curious young bookworm’s library, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)