​Chelsey Bahlmann Bollinger
The books reviewed in this column are designed to captivate young minds as adults share them with babies and toddlers. Explore stories that ignite curiosity about nature, enjoy interactive guessing games, and find soothing bedtime tales. Start inspiring a love of reading in little ones today.

​All About Nature: Animals, Insects, Plants, and More! (The All About Picture Book Series #2) Huda Harajli. Illus. by Jane Sanders. (2024). Callisto.
“Nature is all around us!” “Nature is everything in our world not made by people.” Huda Harajli presents facts about the natural world using simple language that toddlers can understand. Each page covers different elements of nature such as the sun, air, water, the ground, plants, animals, weather patterns, and seasons. Jane Sanders' colorful illustrations featuring children outdoors exploring the world around them vividly make these facts more accessible for young readers. After reading this engaging, interactive informational picture book, children will want to share with others what they know about nature and be eager to learn more. 

​All of Those Babies. Mylisa Larsen. Illus. by Stephanie Laberis. (2024). Beach Lane. 
Mylisa Larsen’s story in rhyme introduces readers to the world of baby animals, sharing their unique and sometimes surprising names. “Echidnas have puggles. / Geese hatch their goslings. / Humpbacks have calves. / Codfish have codlings.” Stephanie Laberis’ cheery illustrations, rendered digitally, picture the baby animals first with their mothers and then in action as they grow. Young children will be captivated by the story’s shift to human babies showing them growing just like the baby animals. “[F]or babies are babies, / but everyone knows . . . // that everyone, / everyone, / everyone / GROWS!” This picture book entertains but also educates, fostering a sense of wonder and excitement about the natural process of growth.

Eye Guess: A Forest Animal Guessing Game. Phyllis Limbacher Tildes. (2024). Charlesbridge.
Phyllis Limbacher Tildes’ lift-the-flap board book presents close-up images of the eyes and a part of the face of forest animals and some interesting facts about them that invite young readers to play a who-am-I? game. Answers are revealed by opening the fold-out page to reveal the animal in its habitat and its name in bold type, making the reading of the book a fun and interactive experience. This guessing game format is sure to captivate young children, keeping them entertained while they learn about eight animals: duck, turtle, frog, racoon, bobcat, mouse, owl, and wolf. The colorful and detailed images will help children develop their observational skills and gain knowledge about different animals as they engage with the book repeatedly.

​Eyes, Nose, Belly, Toes: My First Human Body Book. Krupa Bhojani Playforth, MD. Illus. by Becky Paige. (2024). Callisto.
This informative and interactive board book is a kid-friendly first book about the human body. The introduction aimed at adults mentions the research on how children start making observations about bodies at a very young age and offers tips for reading the book with children at different developmental stages. Using simple sentences and speaking directly to the child, Krupa Bhojani Playforth explains parts of the body in a way that is easy for them to understand. For example, “This is the head. Can you point to yours? The head has many parts: hair, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.” Becky Paige's vibrant illustrations feature a diverse array of toddlers and images that focus on different body parts and their functions and invite the interest and participation of young children. 

​Hey! What’s That? Sandra Boynton. (2024). Boynton Book Works.
Sandra Boynton’s interactive board book featuring her signature cartoon animals engages readers in a captivating guessing game in which they explore different textures. Following Boynton’s directions to place a finger through a hole to turn the page, the finger becomes a part of an animal. For example, after feeling the yellow tactile element through the hole on the front cover and turning the page, the double spread picture shows a yellow elephant with a textured ear—“It’s a bumpy yellow elephant!”—and the child’s wiggled finger becomes the trunk of a companion grey elephant. Each page is designed to stimulate curiosity, encouraging children to guess what comes next. Children and adults alike will enjoy returning to this book again and again. 

​Hush, Little Dozer. Rebecca Colby. Illus. by Katya Longhi. (2024). Little Simon.
This board book written in the rhyming format of the traditional lullaby “Hush, Little Baby” and filled with rich vocabulary that includes action words like churn, level out, excavate and hoist will capture the attention of young children and spark conversations. The lively text and colorful illustrations depict various animated vehicles (bulldozer, loader, dump truck and more) as they cheerfully do their work at a construction site. For example, “Scoop, little loader. / Shovel dirt. / Dig and excavate / the earth.” At the end of the busy day, the weary vehicles are ready to bed down for the night—although youngsters may want to read the book one more time. 

​Jane Foster’s Baby’s First Stories 0-3 Months. Lily Murray. Illus. by Jane Foster. (2024). Kane Miller.
This first book in a series of sturdy board books features double-page spreads of Jane Foster’s bold black-and-white patterned artwork paired with rhythmic stories in verse by Lily Murray. The four stories to read to babies during the first three months of life are “Elephant’s Song,” “Panda’s Day,” “Whale Plays,” and “Bunny’s Burrow.” The stories about Little Elephant, Little Panda, Little Whale, and Bunny that continue in the books for babies 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12 months old in the series become more involved and interactive. Toddlers will continue to enjoy having these first stories for babies read to them again and again after their first birthdays. 

​The Little Things (Emily Dodd’s Love You Books). Emily Dodd. (2024). Templar.
In this heartwarming padded board book, Emma Dodd’s rhyming text and colorful digital artwork illustrate that the simple things in life are what matter the most through the touching depiction of a giant panda and its cub interacting during a day. The story gently explores themes of love, connection, and kindness, emphasizing that what truly matters is the time spent together and the bonds formed by sharing precious moments, whether by playing together, cuddling, or simply being there for one another. The narrative also highlights the value of expressing emotions and making amends, showing that saying sorry and giving friends hugs can strengthen relationships and bring individuals closer. 

​The Mommies on the Bus.  Hannah Eliot. Illus. by Alrin O’Callaghan. (2024). Little
Simon.
In this lively board book, Hannah Eliot adapts the rhythmic verses of the classic nursery song "The Wheels on the Bus" to take young children along on a bus ride “all around the town” that showcases some of the wonderful things mommies do. Alrin O’Callaghan brings the story to life with vibrant, colorful illustrations that depict a diverse array of mothers in various scenarios from queuing up with their children for the bus to doling out snacks, to ensuring the kids are safe, and teaching them good manners until their stop is reached and it is time to exit the bus. This fun read-aloud or sing-along book that highlights the nurturing and caring nature of mothers during an outing will become a favorite. 

​Run, Run, Run! Taro Gomi. (2024). Chronicle.
“It’s time to race! / Ready, set, go!” In this board book originally published in Japan, Taro Gomi uses his signature graphic design style of simple sentences and vibrant, minimalistic artwork against a white background to tell the story of a young boy’s participation in a foot race from start to finish. As the race begins, the boy sets off with determination. But the race is too short for him and he keeps running down bustling city streets, through quiet neighborhoods, past farms in the country, and into a forest. Along the way, the runner encounters an array of animals and interesting sights, adding layers of discovery and adventure to the narrative. Finally, the boy ends up back at the site of the race—for an unexpected finish to his race experience that will delight young readers. 

​Tell Me About Oceans (Tell Me About #2). Lisa Varchol Perron. Illus. by Jennifer Falkner. (2024). Little Simon.
This Tell Me About board book addresses those intriguing questions about the ocean that children ask, questions that sometimes leave adults stumped for answers. For example, set against a colorful double-page illustration showing a child and adult at the beach is the rhyme “Tell me why the ocean’s blue / beneath the sunny sky. / Water scatters beams of sun, / and blue light meets your eye.” A sidebar provides additional scientific information. The book explores other phenomena such as surface waves and tides as well as the diverse flora and fauna of the ocean. The format of the book encourages children to ask more questions and fosters a sense of wonder about the natural world. 

​You’ll Always Be My Chickadee. Kate Hosford. Illus. by Sarah Gonzales. (2024). Chronicle.  
Kate Hosford portrays the sweet and nurturing relationship between an adult and a child in this picture book of lyrical verses that capture moments of love and connection made during a day shared outdoors. Sarah Gonzales’ expressive illustrations, created with gouache, watercolor, and pencil crayons, complement the narrative, bringing each scene to life with gentle colors and delicate details that evoke a sense of comfort and warmth. One of the enchanting verses reads, "Clearest water, coldest river, / plunge and surface, shout and shiver. / Warm ourselves when we are done. / You’ll always be my midday sun." These poetic lines beautifully capture the essence of the bond between the adult and child, highlighting moments of shared adventure, love, and joy. 

​Where’s the Fox? (Where’s The). Ingela P. Arrhenius. (2024). Candlewick.
The creators of this sturdy board book series have addressed the problem of the wear and tear that babies and toddlers often inflict on lift-the-flap books by designing the flaps with durable felt material that will withstand the enthusiastic handling of little hands. On each double-page spread, Ingela P. Arrhenius poses a question asking where a specific animal is. A lift of a colorful felt flap reveals the animal hidden underneath. For example, “Where is the woodpecker?” is answered with “Here it is!” when the child lifts a green, leaf-shaped flap. Adding a personal touch young children will love, the final page shows the four discovered animals (fox, mole, woodpecker, and hare) and the question “And where are you?” Upon lifting the flap, the child sees themself in a mirror. “There you are!” 

​Skye Deiter
The books reviewed in this column are ideal for babies and toddlers to enjoy with a parent or caregiver, or in preschool setting. With the use of simple texts and eye-catching illustrations, the authors and illustrators of these board books and picture books introduce young readers to engaging characters and experiences and offer gentle messages about being curious, taking pleasure in the simple wonders and beauty of the natural world, and loving and appreciating those around us. 

​Becoming a Butterfly (Little Kids First Board Book). Ruth A. Musgrave. (2023). National Geographic Kids.
Attention-grabbing cover art that features an adult swallowtail butterfly and a small caterpillar’s “I can’t wait to grow up!” pronouncement in a thought bubble introduces young children to this board book about one of nature’s most popular insects, the butterfly, and its fascinating life cycle: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly. Double-page spreads feature photographs of butterflies, identified by their common names, and a simple text of short sentences in a large font with key words in color. Ruth A. Musgrave’s inconclusion of thought bubbles such as a butterfly’s “Yum!” while drinking sweet nectar or “Ta-da!” after emerging from its chrysalis adds humor. Use of onomatopoeic words like “Munch. Munch.” and “Slurp!” provide opportunities for expressive reading aloud. As in the other books in the Little Kids First Board Book series, the final spread provides several interactive learning activities. 

​Here Comes Spring! Susan Kantor. Illus. by Katya Longhi. (2023). Little Simon.
“Here comes spring, // all fresh and green.” Susan Kantor’s rhyming text and Katya Longhi’s colorful illustrations invite young children to join a playful group of animal friends as they say goodbye to the cold of winter and welcome the new life spring brings. Readers will relate to the woodland animals who, dressed like people, engage in familiar spring activities such as looking for ladybugs, picking dandelions and blowing their seeds into a gentle breeze, and making flower necklaces. Then, “like merry robins, // we sing a song to spring.” Here Comes Spring! is a companion to Kantor and Longhi’s other board books that celebrate the seasons of the year: Here Comes Fall! (2021), Hooray for Snowy Days! (2021), and Hooray for Sunny Days! (2022).     

​I’m a Little Bunny (I’m a Little). Hannah Eliot. Illus. by Liz Brizzi. (2023). Little Simon.
Following the format of the “I’m a Little Teapot” nursery rhyme song, Hannah Eliot’s text, complemented by Liz Brizzi’s lively cartoon artwork, introduces three little bunnies, one at a time, who are excited by the arrival of spring. For example, “I’m a little bunny— / look at me! / I bounce and I hop / so happily. // When I feel the warm breeze, / I will say: // ‘SPRING IS HERE! / YIPEE! HOORAY!’” From frolicking in breezy fields and admiring blooming flowers, to discovering delicious treats of clover and making friends with animals who have just migrated back or awakened from hibernation, the three little bunnies enjoy the return of spring. This joyful board book ends with their exuberant declaration, “Everyone’s awake now, / so we will call: / ‘HAPPY SPRING TO ONE AND ALL!’” 

​Let’s Go Puddling! Emma Perry. Illus. by Claire Alexander. (2023). Candlewick.
Claire Alexander sets the scene for this picture book on the front endpaper, revealing a city apartment building on a rainy day. “Clouds gather, / skies darken, / rain falls, / puddles appear. / “‘Let’s go!’” Emma Perry’s simple, lyrical text combines with Alexander’s watercolor-inspired digital illustrations to tell a joyous story about three young friends who relish in puddling together at their building’s playground on a rainy day while their parents shelter nearby under an umbrella. They “stimp, stamp, stomp!” and “splish, splash, splosh!” through puddles—teeny ones, muddy ones, enormous ones, and deep ones—and delight as a shaking wet dog and a bicyclist riding by get them wetter and wetter. At last, when socks are soggy and toes are cold, the friends head back inside to dry off and enjoy a nice big “SNUGGLE” with their parents on the couch in one family’s apartment. Children may catch a glimpse of a rainbow in the window just before this heartwarming story ends with its final illustration of a rainbow above the building on the back endpaper.   

​Little Chicks. Taro Gomi. (2023). Chronicle.
Originally published in Japan, this board book by author-illustrator Taro Gomi couples his signature style of colorful, minimalistic illustrations and simple sentences to tell a sweet story about three little chicks who leave the chicken coop and spend the day exploring the world around them. “Three little chicks run. // They run together.” The chicks excitedly run and run and run, stopping occasionally to rest or to hide from a predator flying above. The chicks’ adventurous day even includes taking a bus ride before running some more. Then at last, they run home to their parents, who are waiting with loving, open wings. This story offers young children a simple, yet powerful, reminder about the warmth and reassurance of loved ones.   

​Llama Pajamas (Early Bird Stories). Jenny Jinks. Illus. by Addy Rivera Sonda. (2023) Lerner.
A llama named Larry is fed up with being too hot. Terry, another llama, suggests going for a swim or sitting in the shade beneath a tree, but nothing seems to help. Hearing this, Edna, an older llama, offers to help, and Larry’s wool is gone with a “SNIP! SNIP! SNIP!” He likes his short hair and is finally cool. But now, Larry is too cold at night. Edna steps in again and knits him a pair of pajamas with a “CLICK! CLACK! CLICK! CLACK!” Soon, the other llamas want short hair and pajamas, too. Once more, Edna steps in—and the story ends with a llama pajama slumber party for all! Like other books in this series for emerging readers, Llama Pajamas includes a short quiz to check for understanding.    

Maisy’s Ambulance (Go with Maisy Board Books). Lucy Cousins. (2023). Candlewick.
When an emergency calls, Maisy the mouse and Charley the crocodile have an important job to do. Their siren (“Nee-nah, nee-nah!”) alerts other cars to make way for their ambulance and allows them to arrive quickly at the scene of an accident. Poor Eddie the elephant has fallen while roller skating, leaving him with a very sore trunk. Using their first aid kits, Charley puts an ice pack on Eddie’s bruised trunk, and Maisy wraps it with a bandage. Eddie now feels better and is appreciative for the help he receives from the Maisy and Charley rescue team. This sturdy board book shaped like an ambulance with Lucy Cousins’  simple text and signature childlike illustrations featuring Maisy and her animal friends painted in gouache in bright colors and outlined with heavy black lines gives young readers a child-friendly glimpse into the important work of special first responders.  

​Mommy Time. Monique James-Duncan. Illus. by Ebony Glenn. (2023). Candlewick. In her debut picture book, Monique James-Duncan celebrates the specialness of the “mommy time” shared by a stay-at-home mother and her two children, a toddler boy and a school-age girl. Using short, rhythmic phrases, the author’s words mirror the youthfulness of the toddler telling the story while also expressing the hustle and bustle of the mother’s balancing of playtime with errands and caring tasks. “She hurries with the cleanup time. / Me? Help? It’s so exhausting time! / Sweeping time, laundry time. / Put down to nap. // Give a snack. / It’s stinky diaper changing time.” Ebony Glenn’s digital illustrations in soft pastels and earthy tones add a layer of warmth to this story as she captures the mother’s nurturing demeaner and the love that is felt by all the members of this Black family.   

​Nat the Cat Takes a Bath (Nat the Cat #2). Jarrett Lerner. (2023). Simon Spotlight.
The never seen narrator (whose words appear in large, black print) declares, “Nat the Cat is going to take a bath,” and Jarrett Lerner’s cartoonlike illustrations showing stench coming off the cat and flies buzzing around make it clear that he needs one. Nat, however, does not want to take a bath. When the narrator asks whether he is scared of the bath, Nat comes up with excuse after excuse—wanting bubbles, needing toys, and not having a towel—to avoid getting in the tub. As Nat finally admits to being afraid, his friend, Pat, a rat who loves taking baths, comes along and dives in, leaving Nat wet and contemplating his next move. Toddlers who love tub time will be delighted with the ending of this story that shows Nat and Pat sitting together and smiling in the tub. Consider Nat the Cat Takes a Nap (2023), the first book in the series, for another shared reading experience.   

​Peekaboo Rex! (Boynton on Board). Sandra Boynton. (2023). Boynton Bookworks.
“PEEKABOO! I SEE YOU! // Do you see ME behind a tree?” A big T. rex is playing hide-and-seek with a much smaller dinosaur friend. With each of his not-well-chosen hiding spots—behind a tree or potted plant, under a blanket, in a crowd (in “Where’s Waldo” fashion), or even up high in the sky in an airplane—he is always easily discovered by the little dino with a “Peekaboo!” The circle cut-out on the front cover of the board book invites young children to frame their faces for their very own game of peekaboo with Rex!   

​Chelsey Bahlmann Bollinger & Skye Deiter
The picture books and board books reviewed in this column present an array of topics from animals to tractors. They encourage children to actively participate by lifting flaps, examining intriguing images, and answering posed questions. Babies and toddlers are sure to find some new favorites that they will want to read over and over again with family members and caregivers or in early childhood settings.

​Adventure Awaits. Henry Cole. (2022). Little Simon.
A dog and a cat living in the same home awake and embark on separate adventures outside. After surviving separate chases, they reunite under a tree where the sound of an owl sends both of them running. What begins as a fearful flight turns into a friendly race back home to cuddle together for a nap on a shared pillow until another adventure awaits in a surprise twist at the end of the story. The colorful, expressive illustrations and spare text, usually only one word on a page  (“sunrise // stretch // adventure // awaits”) of Henry Cole’s inviting board book encourages conversation to interpret unfolding story events and make predictions of what is to come.
—SD​

​Do Baby Elephants Suck Their Trunks?: Amazing Ways Animals Are Just Like Us. Ben Lerwill. Illus. by Katharine McEwen. (2022). Nosy Crow.
How are human babies similar to various baby animals? Each double-page spread of this picture book with vibrant collage artwork features a question such as “How do you stay warm?” or “Do you drink a lot of milk?” addressed to the child reader followed by facts about a baby animal and the care of its family that is similar. Different wild and domestic animals (elephants, polar bears, orangutans, dogs, and six more) and their behaviors are included. And yes, baby elephants sometimes suck their trunks.
—CBB

​Five Hiding Ostriches. Barbara Barbieri McGrath. Illus. by Riley Samels. (2022). Charlesbridge.
Fun Fact: When hiding from predators, ostriches lie down, stretch their necks out, and put their heads down on the ground to disguise themselves as rocks. In this early concept counting book with a patterned rhyming text and full-color digital artwork, five little ostriches run and hide from a lion tracking them. In a surprising turn of events, the ostriches outsmart the lion, who declares, “You birds won hide-and-seek!” The book ends with fun facts about ostriches and a game for children (and adults) to play to mimic the hide-and-seek game that takes place in the book.
—CBB

​Goodnight, Little Sloth (Baby Animal Tales #6). Amanda Wood. Illus. by Vikki Chu. Photos. by Bec Winnel. (2022). Magic Cat.
Little Sloth spends his days swaying gently on a tree branch, munching on leaves, napping, and just looking around to see what he can see. Although some parrots tease him with names like lazybones and slowpoke and tell him that he is missing out on what the rest of the forest has to offer, it is Little Sloth, not the parrots, who witnesses something spectacular from the comfort of his tree. This tale with Bec Winnel’s photographic images of Little Sloth in his green forest home created by Vikki Chu’s watercolor paintings offers a message to all readers, young and old, to slow down and appreciate the beautiful wonders all around them.
—SD

​Here We Come! Janna Matthies. Illus. by Christine Davenier. (2022). Beach Lane.
“Here we come with a rum-pum-pum. / Wanna come?” In this cumulative picture book story, a young boy embarks on an imaginative moonlit adventure into the woods with his musical pipe and teddy bear. Illustrations washed in soft blue ink introduce animals with instruments and pajama-clad children one-by-one who accept an invitation to join in the parade. All is merry until rain halts the lively march, and everyone huddles under a tree to wait out the last of the “drippy-drips” before returning to their homes. The repetition of rhymes loaded with onomatopoeia and silly words like “swish-swish bum” will have toddlers chiming in as this rhythmic bedtime story is read aloud.
—SD

​A Kit Story (Animal Stories #2). Kristen Tracy. Illus. by Alison Farrell. (2022). Chronicle.
In this beautifully crafted board book, written as an autobiography of a fox kit, readers learn about a young fox’s behavior and growth during the four seasons. The kit compares herself to other animals throughout the year by describing differences. “It’s springtime. // Lambs gambol all day. / Owls swoop all night. // Not me. // Like a skunk / or a lightning bug, / I slink best / at dusk and dawn.” The little fox’s recounting of childlike behaviors, such as getting scared by a twig snapping and playing with a sibling, helps toddlers develop a connection with the kit, and the use of action verbs and terms like vixen (female fox) or skulk (group of foxes) promotes vocabulary acquisition.
—SD

Lion Lullaby. Kate Banks. Illus. by Lauren Tobia. (2022). Candlewick.
As the sun begins to set in the savanna, ten little lions must find their way home in time for bed. “One little lion perched in a tree. / Where is it looking and what does it see? // A monkey is bouncing a babe on its knee. / Oh, little lion, hurry on home.” One at a time, the little lions stop playing to join the journey home until finally, in a heartwarming ending, all ten cubs are huddled together under the evening stars, drifting off into a peaceful sleep with their mothers. With its rhythmic verses and playful illustrations that gradually grow darker and calmer, this bedtime lullaby is sure to sooth even the wildest little ones.
—SD

​Little Fish’s Ocean (Little Fish). Lucy Cousins. (2022). Candlewick.
Lucy Cousins’ Little Fish returns in a new, interactive ocean adventure in this sturdy lift-the-flaps board book with her signature colorful gouache illustrations of five underwater scenes for readers to explore. They will meet Little Fish’s fishy friends including crabs and mollusks in rock pools, a dolphin and stingray in kelp beds, a squid and an anglerfish in the deep sea, seals and a blue whale in the Antarctic, and “Mommy Fish” in Little Fish’s coral reef home. Descriptive rhymes with welcoming words such as “wave hello” or “dive down deep” engage young children as they learn about different ocean animals and the diversity of their habitats.
—SD

​My Very First 100 Words. Rosemary Wells. (2022). Paula Wiseman.
With softly colored mixed-media illustrations of the cute animal characters dressed in clothes Rosemary Wells is known for, her latest picture book supports children’s language development by using selected and adapted Mother Goose rhymes to focus on words and phrases. For example, the classic rhyme “I’m Dusty Bill / from Vinegar Hill / Never had a bath / And I never will” is used to introduce words associated with the activity of taking a bath: “dirty,” “wet,” “dry,” “clean,” and “in” and “out” of a tub. The book can be used with babies by pointing to various images during the reading. With repeated readings, Toddlers will begin to identify rhymes and specific words in each of the rhymes. The backside of the dust jacket is a poster with 100 “very first words.”
—CBB

Odd Birds: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Flock. Laura Gehl. Illus. by Gareth Lucas. (2022). Abrams Appleseed.
In this board book, babies and toddlers are presented with a simple text and colorful portraits of eight “odd birds” and interesting facts about them. For example, the reader learns about the hoatzin that smells like poop. The final double-spread page features photographs of the unusual  birds: frigate bird, blue-footed booby, shoebill stork, ostrich, hoatzin, oilbird, California condor, and burrowing owl along with additional information about them. (The hoatzin smells like poop because it takes a long time for its food to be digested, and the odor keeps predators away.) Bird-loving children are sure to enjoy this book.
—CBB

​River (Animal Families #5). Nosy Crow. Illus. by Jane Ormes. (2022). Nosy Crow.
Jane Ormes’s vibrant screen print artwork for this interactive board book showcases four river animal families: duck, otter, dragon fly, and swan. Double-spread pages feature portraits of the “daddies” on the left and the “mommies on the right, identified by name. A lift of the flap on the right reveals their “baby.” The final double spread has a flap on each side to open to show the families and their group name. This square board book with sturdy easy-to-lift flaps fits nicely in tiny hands and encourages children to be actively involved in the reading of the book.
—CBB

​10 Hungry Rabbits (New edition). Anita Lobel. (2022). Paula Wiseman.
When Mama Rabbit reveals she has no ingredients to prepare a soup for her ten hungry rabbits, they agree to pick vegetables from the family’s garden. One by one, each of the rabbits discovers something yummy for Mama’s soup, and with each rabbit’s discovery, readers are introduced to two basic skills: counting and color recognition. As each rabbit visits the garden, a large panel on the page presents the respective number three ways: as the cardinal numeral, in word form, and as a pictorial representation of the vegetable, all in the featured color, while a smaller panel at the bottom of the page reveals the rabbit, in a color-coordinated outfit, picking the food. The text on the page also includes the ordinal number. For example, “The sixth rabbit yanked up SIX ORANGE carrots.” Anita Lobel’s engaging concept picture book was originally published in 2012.
—SD

Tractor. Sally Sutton. Illus. by Brian Lovelock. (2022). Candlewick.
A green tractor works hard through the year pulling farm implements doing the seasonal activities on a family farm—plowing, tilling, planting seeds, irrigating, harvesting, and transporting the crop of corn out of the field. Sally Sutton’s patterned, rhythmic verses with chants express each implement’s role (for example, the seed drill plants the seeds and “tips them!” and “flips them!”), and a following question asks the reader to name it. This book will delight children who love all sorts of things that go as they enjoy hearing the story read again and again while poring over Brian Lovelock’s colorful, detailed, colorful pigmented ink illustrations. The final double spread labels the parts of the tractor and identifies the farm implements.
—CBB