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Favorite Board Books of 2012
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From: Payne, Rachel <R.Payne_at_BrooklynPublicLibrary.org>
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:43:13 -0500
I always enjoy reading all the best of the year lists and I was delighted to see at least one board book included on a couple of lists! Kirkus and Parents Magazine listed TRAINS GO in their best books for 2012 and I am delighted Horn Book has started their board book round-up. I would love to see a section for original board books or books for the very young on some of these annual lists (similar to what Bank Street does). Even though board books are considered picture books, I think it hard for these deceptively simple works to compete with more sophisticated fare. After working on a couple of board book evaluation projects this year, I have discovered it is not an easy feat to create something developmentally appropriate, engaging to an audience with a very short attention span, and eye-catching in the often smaller-than-normal format. I would be interest in other people's favorite board books for the year. Here are my top five original board books of 2012:
CRADLE ME by Debby Slier. There are so few board books with Native American children I was thrilled to see this one. Each baby is photographed on a traditional cradle board and there is a place for adults to write a translation of the simple captions is their home language. I know some libraries have been reluctant to purchase this book due to the fill-in the blank feature, but I would get it regardless since there is so little out there.
TRAINS GO by Steve Light. Light's graphic trains have so much energy and noise you can practically hear them racing across the page. The accompanying noises spelled out in the text make it a hoot to read aloud (practice first). His long, narrow format is perfect for the subject! TRUCKS GO is a delight too.
SPOT THE ANIMALS by the American Museum of Natural History, illustrated by Steve Jenkins. This lift-the-flap title is beautiful, sturdy, and a fun introduction to wildlife. A yellow tang, an orange stink bug, and a green python nestle behind flaps reflecting their habitats.
DADDIES AND THEIR BABIES by Guido van Genechten (also MOMMIES AND THEIR BABIES). Mr. van Genechten really gets the board book crowd and this book is no exception. In black and white, he catches the essence of the father/child bond in his animal pairings. While many of these critters don't nurture their young in the ways depicted, that is not really the point for little ones. The playful cartoons capture what is key for newborns- trust and love.
KISS, TICKLE, CUDDLE, HUG by Susan Musgrave. Musgrave gives baby-loving babies what they want: big, beautiful photos of little ones wearing various expressions. The simple, playful encourages empathy, which researchers now know develops earlier than previously thought.
I was trying to keep this exercise down to five to show some discipline, but then I remembered Belle Yang's bilingual Chinese/English board books, SUMMERTIME RAINBOW and A NEST IN SPRINGTIME. Really lovely art and simple accessible concepts. I would love to see more bilingual Chinese/English books!
Best, Rachel
Rachel Payne Ѓ Coordinator, Early Childhood Services Brooklyn Public Library Ѓ Youth and Family Services 10 Grand Army Plaza Ѓ Brooklyn, NY 11238 Tel: 718.230.2233 Ѓ Fax: 718.230.2784 r.payne_at_brooklynpubliclibrary.org
BPL's sites for children & teens: Resources for parents & teachers at BPL:
Received on Wed 12 Dec 2012 05:43:13 PM CST
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:43:13 -0500
I always enjoy reading all the best of the year lists and I was delighted to see at least one board book included on a couple of lists! Kirkus and Parents Magazine listed TRAINS GO in their best books for 2012 and I am delighted Horn Book has started their board book round-up. I would love to see a section for original board books or books for the very young on some of these annual lists (similar to what Bank Street does). Even though board books are considered picture books, I think it hard for these deceptively simple works to compete with more sophisticated fare. After working on a couple of board book evaluation projects this year, I have discovered it is not an easy feat to create something developmentally appropriate, engaging to an audience with a very short attention span, and eye-catching in the often smaller-than-normal format. I would be interest in other people's favorite board books for the year. Here are my top five original board books of 2012:
CRADLE ME by Debby Slier. There are so few board books with Native American children I was thrilled to see this one. Each baby is photographed on a traditional cradle board and there is a place for adults to write a translation of the simple captions is their home language. I know some libraries have been reluctant to purchase this book due to the fill-in the blank feature, but I would get it regardless since there is so little out there.
TRAINS GO by Steve Light. Light's graphic trains have so much energy and noise you can practically hear them racing across the page. The accompanying noises spelled out in the text make it a hoot to read aloud (practice first). His long, narrow format is perfect for the subject! TRUCKS GO is a delight too.
SPOT THE ANIMALS by the American Museum of Natural History, illustrated by Steve Jenkins. This lift-the-flap title is beautiful, sturdy, and a fun introduction to wildlife. A yellow tang, an orange stink bug, and a green python nestle behind flaps reflecting their habitats.
DADDIES AND THEIR BABIES by Guido van Genechten (also MOMMIES AND THEIR BABIES). Mr. van Genechten really gets the board book crowd and this book is no exception. In black and white, he catches the essence of the father/child bond in his animal pairings. While many of these critters don't nurture their young in the ways depicted, that is not really the point for little ones. The playful cartoons capture what is key for newborns- trust and love.
KISS, TICKLE, CUDDLE, HUG by Susan Musgrave. Musgrave gives baby-loving babies what they want: big, beautiful photos of little ones wearing various expressions. The simple, playful encourages empathy, which researchers now know develops earlier than previously thought.
I was trying to keep this exercise down to five to show some discipline, but then I remembered Belle Yang's bilingual Chinese/English board books, SUMMERTIME RAINBOW and A NEST IN SPRINGTIME. Really lovely art and simple accessible concepts. I would love to see more bilingual Chinese/English books!
Best, Rachel
Rachel Payne Ѓ Coordinator, Early Childhood Services Brooklyn Public Library Ѓ Youth and Family Services 10 Grand Army Plaza Ѓ Brooklyn, NY 11238 Tel: 718.230.2233 Ѓ Fax: 718.230.2784 r.payne_at_brooklynpubliclibrary.org
BPL's sites for children & teens: Resources for parents & teachers at BPL:
Received on Wed 12 Dec 2012 05:43:13 PM CST
