BOARD BOOK ROUNDUP: FALL, PT. 1
Summer reading programs have ended and school has started, so it is time for our annual Fall Board Book Roundup! Below are some new board books that may be useful at your public library:
New Original Board Books
Cousins, Lucy. Little Fish’s Opposites. Candlewick, 05/2024. [20p.] $9.99. 978-1-5362-3626-2.
Simple opposites are demonstrated in this rhyming book that is illustrated with Cousins’ signature deeply saturated color cartoon artwork. Big and small, in and out, and more are shown; for example, there are young seahorses and an old turtle. Many of the fish are distinctive colors, so parents can add that concept when reading this to their toddlers.
Higginson, Sheila Sweeny. Marvel Beginnings: First 100 Words. Illus. by Jay P. Fosgitt. Marvel, 05/2024. [24p.] $6.99. 978-1-368-09033-3.
This simple vocabulary book features approximately four words per page, each illustrated with a cartoon, often featuring superheroes Spider-man, the Hulk, and others. The words are grouped by category, such as “Around the House” or “Bath Time.” This seems more like a home purchase for fans of the Marvel characters than for libraries.
Koponen, Libby. Is That the Bus? Illus. by Katie Mazeika. Charlesbridge, 09/2024. [24p.] $8.99. 978-1-62354-474-4.
A little boy is playing and looks out the window and sees and hears a vehicle. First, it is garbage truck, then a fire truck, then a motorcycle and so on. Finally, it is the school bus he has been waiting for, bringing home his big sister. With the repeated title on each spread and lots of sound words, this is a great read-aloud. The boy and his sister have dark brown hair and tan skin. A first purchase for all libraries serving preschoolers.
Light, Steve. Gus & Sully Watch the Weather. Candlewick, 05/2024. [16p] $7.99. 978-1-5362-3004-8.
Gus the rhino and Sully the mouse wake up and wonder what the weather is like. They describe how things would be if it were sunny, cloudy, foggy, rainy, and so forth using a brief dialogue. The two are best friends, living together in a house and wearing clothing. First in a series, this is a great way to teach toddlers common words on a subject (in this case, weather). The watercolor artwork, humor, and brevity make this a great beginning to what is hopefully a series.
McQuinn, Anna. Leo at Lunch. Illus. by Ruth Hearson. Charlesbridge, 09/2024. [18p.] $8.99. 978-1-62354-408-9.
Leo goes out to lunch at a café with his father and grandmother in this simple introduction for toddlers who may be experiencing something similar. Leo and his family are Black in this popular series that is a companion to McQuinn’s “Lola” picture books. Parents will appreciate the way the story presents the positive and polite experience of eating at a restaurant. A great choice for libraries.
Musgrave, Ruth A. Frogs. National Geographic, 03/2024. [24p.] $7.99. 978-1-4263-7536-1.
Part of the “Little Kids First Board Book” series, this factual book on frogs is filled with dynamic color photos. Frogs and toads from various countries are shown with labels indicating their types. The text is appropriately brief for toddlers but contains quite a bit of information. A great way to introduce the subject to young children.
New Holiday Board Books
Kimmel, Barbara. Hanukkah Hippity-Hop. Illus. by Ana Zurita. Kar-Ben, 10/2024. [10p.] $9.99. 979-8-7656-0456-4.
Ethnically diverse children sing and dance at a Hanukkah party in this slim board book. There are a few Hanukkah-related things mentioned, including the Maccabees, dreidels, and latkes, but not much else about the holiday. Not a first choice to introduce this Jewish holiday.
Sorell, Traci. On Pow Wow Day. Illus. by Madelyn Goodnight. Charlesbridge, 09/2024/2022. [20p.] $8.99. 978-1-62354-576-5.
Numbers one to ten as well as colors are highlighted in this board book set at a powwow celebration. Items to be counted include drumsticks, dresses, and dancers which are shown in the colorful illustrations. Some families will see themselves in the story and artwork; for others this is a great introduction to the custom of Powwow Day.
Sussman, Joni Kibort. Shabbot Shalom, Grover! Illus. by Tom Leigh. Kar-Ben, 10/2024. [10p.] $9.99. 978-1-7284-9285-8.
A yarmulke-wearing Grover leads his Sesame Street friends in the customs of a Shabbot dinner, including lighting the candles and blessing the challah bread. This is a smoothly told introduction to the custom of the meal enjoyed on the sabbath.
Symes, Sally. Spooky Little Halloween. Illus. by Nick Sharratt. Candlewick, 07/2024/2023. [16p.] $9.99. 978-1-5362-3147-2.
Part of the “Finger Wiggle Book” series, this contains two die-cut holes for the reader to place fingers, giving the characters legs. Various Halloween characters, including a witch, wolf, bat, and spider are shown in deeply colored cartoon artwork. The simple text describes each character along with the sounds they make. A serviceable look at Halloween for very young children.
Wheeler, Lisa. “My First Dino” series. Illus. by Barry Gott. Carolrhoda, 08/2024. [10p.] $7.99 each.
My First Dino-Hanukkah. 979-8-7656-2311-4.
My First Dino-Thanksgiving. 979-8-7656-2310-7.
These brief, slim holiday books feature artwork from Wheeler’s popular dinosaur picture books, adapted here into board books. The rhyming texts introduce aspects of each holiday, but don’t give much information. For example, the Thanksgiving book doesn’t mention anything about Native Americans. Stick with the picture books in the series.
New Tactile, Flap, or Moveable Board Books
Behling, Steve. Spider-Man Goes to the Farm. Ills. by Jay P. Fosgitt. Marvel, 01/2024. [10p.] $9.99. 978-1-368-09037-7.
Teen superhero Spider-man visits a farm and helps various animals, such as a horse stuck in the mud. The text is too long for a board book, with a paragraph on each spread. The touch and feel elements are the usual fur or plastic nose or rooster’s comb, so this is not a great choice for libraries.
Braun, Sebastien. Baby on Board: Airplane. Templar, 06/2024. [8p.] $9.99. 978-1-5362-3498-5.
In this sturdy board book with tabs and sliders, various animals go to the airport and board the plane for a holiday. The repeated phrase “All aboard the baby plane” begins each entry of the rhyming text. This works well for families taking toddlers on their first flights.
Davies, Benji. Bizzy Bear Preschool. Nosy Crow, 07/2024/2023. [8p.] $8.99.978-1-5362-3481-7.
Bizzy Bear attends a preschool run by an elephant and filled with other animals who play, paint, and listen to a story. This popular series of sturdy board books features sliders and wheels to turn to show action, and a rhyming, repetitive text. The preschool setting is a great way to introduce the concept to toddlers just starting preschool.
Grote, Allison. Disney Baby Peek-a-boo Thumper! Illus. by Jerrod Maruyama. Disney Press, 01/2024. [10p.] $8.99. 978-1-368-09295-1.
Baby animals from the Disney classic “Bambi” are featured in this board book with sturdy flaps. Each spread contains the text “Thumper is hiding, where could he be?” and he appears under the last flap. An appealing board book that contains artwork and text that are suitable for toddlers.
Grote, Allison. What Does Simba See? Illus. by Jerrod Maruyama. Disney Press, 05/2024. [10p.] $9.99. 978-1-368-09975-2.
Part of the Disney Baby series, this touch and feel book focuses on characters from the animated film “The Lion King.” The text describes the action and includes the repeated phrase “Hakuna matata.” The items to touch are not very inspired and include a fuzzy tail, plastic leaf, and sticky piece of melon. This is not a great choice for libraries as it is likely to fall apart.
Huang, Yu-Hsuan. Five Speckled Frogs. Nosy Crow, 05/2024. [8p.] $9.99. 978-1-5362-3482-4.
Part of Huang’s “Sing Along with Me” series, this contains the lyrics to the popular storytime fingerplay “Five Green and Speckled Frogs.” The full color cartoon artwork shows all five frogs in each spread for the child to count. The book contains sturdy sliders and dials to add movement. This would be great for families who want to learn this song.
Otter, Isabel. Color Gallery: Introducing First Colors Through Art. Illus. by Sophie Ledesma. Tiger Tales, 04/2024/2023. [14p.] $9.99. 978-1-6643-5097-7.
Originally published in Great Britain in 2023, this charming board book contains gatefold pages to demonstrate colors as well as fine art. Animals visit a museum which arranges the art by color, but the text also explains mosaics, sculpture, portrait, and other forms of artwork. Readers are asked to count certain objects in each spread, and look for a gray mouse in each illustration. This useful book will appeal to a wide age range and may inspire a museum visit.
Board Book Adaptations of Picture Books
Parenteau, Shirley. Bears and Boos. Illus. by David Walker. Candlewick, 07/2024/2019. [30p.] $6.99. 978-1-5362-3579-1.
Big Brown Bear and the four little bears grab items from a box of costumes, leaving Floppy with no options for Halloween. Then, they learn to share the costumes in this simple rhyming story. This sweet but unoriginal story works fine in this board edition, but is not an essential purchase.
Sutton, Sally. Tractor. Illus. by Brian Lovelock. Candlewick, 05/2024/2022. [28p.] $8.99. 978-1-5362-3580-7.
Parts of a tractor, such as a plow and a harrow, are described in this rhyming story with repetition. There are factual elements that will help young children learn about the uses of a tractor, especially on a farm. All of the characters appear to be part of a white family who owns and works on the farm. The board edition is just as useful as the full picture book original.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University iSchool
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