Review: Touch and Feel: Farm by Spring Street (Children's, Board book, 9/10E)

 July 2024, Boxer Books, 10 pages, Board Book, Review copy

Summary from Union Square and Co

Touch and feel the farm animals in this stylish, design-led board book. Introducing textures and providing the child with a tactile reading experience, this book explores a cow, a sheep, a rooster, a dog, and a duckling. Beautifully produced, with contemporary artwork, can you spot these animals in the world around you?

Nayu's thoughts

Simple board books are essential for early reading skills, as they provide great opportunities to intearct with young children. The images are simple and clear without fussy backgrounds so young eyes can easily focus on them. The pages are thick, perfect to withstand any sticky hands! Each animal has a part to feel with different textures. 

The only downside is some of the parts feel quite small compared to other touch and feel books. I know little hands are small, and less coverage makes it easier to keep the book not too thick in width, but I had expected the duckling wing to be bigger. This is a very minor niggle in what is otherwise a solid read. The text says each animal's sounds and asks to feel the relevant part on it's body. 

Suggested read 

If farm animals are enjoyed, older readers may like to read a pig's diary The Seriously Extraordinary Diary of Pig by Emer Stamp (Children's, 7 years +, 10E/10E)

Review: Zoom: Ocean Adventure by Susan Hayes & Sam Rennocks + Zoom: Space Adventure by Susan Hayes and Susanna Remiz (Children's, Board book, 10E/10E)

 

 July 2020, What on Earth Publishing, 36 pages, Hardback, Board Book, Review copies 

 Summary

Zoom Ocean Adventure from What On Earth Publishing 

Join Noah as he puts on his wetsuit and visits Earth’s most mysterious environment: the ocean. Come face to face with a great white shark, join dazzling fish on a coral reef, explore the depths of the ocean in Noah’s submarine, and discover your very own pirate treasure.

Zoom: Space Adventure from What On Earth Publishing 

Join Ava and her cat on their adventure into space, where you can visit the International Space Station, ride in a moon buggy, discover a Mars rover, journey past all the planets in the Solar System, and watch the greatest show in outer space: a supernova explosion.

Nayu's thoughts

These books are so fun! Yes, I do have a favourite which has to be Ava's tale in Zoom: Space Adventure, but Zoom: Ocean Adventure was really good too. Both are extremely sturdy board books which will stand up to being chewed on and torn at, or attempted to tear. The bright colours and well detailed illustrations match the adventure theme of the books. Both books start with the child in their room, preparing for an adventure. I liked how most of what's in the opening scene plays a part in the tale, sharks and planets alike feature for Ava and Noah. Parts of each book are deliberately cut out to add depth to the scene: for example Ava's space antics let her see the moon from afar, with a bit cut out and on turning the page what was the whole moon is actually part of the moon which Ava lands on and is really big. For Noah a shark's eye is also a giant squid's eye.

The reason why Ava's tale is my favourite is because there is a countdown before her space rocket launches: the 5,4,3,2,1 is shown in numbers that are cut out, one per page, Each is layer in a way that shows what the engineers and other technicians do in their final checks prior to launch. It struck me as extremely clever, Plus Ava's cat is with her, and as a cat lover I totally love that! I love how she visits most of the main places in the solar system, apart from Pluto which I know isn't a planet any more, but I grew up with it as a planet so to me it forever will be a planet! It looks so odd without it included.

Both children visit an awful lot of their respective place, touching on all the main points, having a few creatures and planets labelled on each page to help readers learn more about the areas. There is a wonderful large pop-up at the end of the book before each child returns home, which made me smile and will be unexpected to first time readers (I did suspect it could happen as I've read similar books). These are definitely a must buy for any reader wanting to explore the world both on and off this planet.

Suggested read 

Similarly themed books include National Trust: Up and Down, A Walk in the Countryside by Rosalind Beardshaw (Children's, Picture book, Board book, 10/10)

 

 

Jump by Tatsuhide Matsuoka (Children's, Picture book, Board Book, 10E/10E)

Jumping kitty!

 April 2019, Gecko Press, Board Book, Review copy

Summary from Gecko Press

A frog jumps. Boing! A kitten jumps. Boi-ing!
A dog jumps. Boiyyyyyyoiingg!
A grasshopper jumps, a rabbit jumps, then a snail . . .
uhm, maybe not.
Mother and chick jump together, a fish jumps out of the water, and last comes a little girl to join the fun…
I jump too—BOING!

Nayu's thoughts

Take a moment to look at the cover. See how cute the cat is? Every single page is like that! With all manner of animals jumping with various levels of success each page made me smile in delight. Who would have thought a single word could elicit great amusement! The expression on the animals' faces are priceless. There is a real sense of movement for each animal (even the snail!), the colour palette is pleasing and the sturdy book will withstand little hands for a good while. Perfect for every readers' bookshelf! 

Suggested read

For more animal antics check out Cheep Cheep Pop Up Fun (Children's, Board book, Picture book, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

Poor Little Rabbit by Jorg Muhle (Children's, Picture book, Board Book, 10E/10E)

March 2018, Gecko Press, 20 pages, Board Book, Review copy 

Summary from Gecko Press

 Oh no, Little Rabbit has hurt his arm. And there’s blood! Can you help him? Blow gently three times, try a plaster, a rhyme, but he’s still crying… Let’s give his ears a stroke and wipe his tears. There, all better! Off you go, Little Rabbit!

Nayu's thoughts 

As soon as I saw the cover I went awwwww over this book - isn't Little Rabbit adorable? The cover is certainly heart melting material, and the rest of the illustrations are even cuter! I like the concept of the story which is to show what happens when you hurt yourself. There's a comical air to the story which had me laughing away at how sorrowful Little Rabbit was when he saw the blood - getting hurt isn't funny, but I feel this book shows that it's ok to get hurt, everyone does, and it's not the end of the world, and often isn't that serious even if it seems like it at the time. 

I know for children any blood is a worrying sign. The interaction between the reader and the book makes it all the more realistic, and probably mimics what the reader will experience when they hurt themselves, as well as providing a framework for them to use if they haven't yet fallen over. The simple page backgrounds help focus more on what's happening to Little Rabbit, and it's a sturdy book (most board books are) so can be read almost infinitely so long as little hands don't wreck the book too badly. I'm sure it will survive if any saliva gets on it when readers blow on Little Rabbit's injury-I'm not being gross, I'm being realistic because some really young readers don't always know how to blow without including saliva particles. 

Suggested read

I haven't read any other of Jorg's books, but other books which explain situations to readers include   Going Swimming and Going to Playschool by Sarah Garland (Children’s, Picture book, 9/10, short 'n' sweet review) 

National Trust: Up and Down, A Walk in the Countryside by Rosalind Beardshaw (Children's, Picture book, Board book, 10E/10E)

 September 2017, Nosy Crow, 28 pages, Board Book, Hardback, Review copy

Summary from Nosy Crow 

The fourth in a series of concept books created for the National Trust, this board book takes very young readers on a winter walk through the countryside, going up and down, left and right, from cold to warm and light to dark. With beautiful illustrations from Ros Beardshaw, this elegant little book is a great way of bringing children closer to nature.

Nayu's thoughts 

I saw the cover of this book and instantly wanted to review it - I love the style of illustration, the children are even cuter inside when the hood is shown from a different angle she is extra adorable! Every single page made me feel warm and fuzzy with the sheer joy the children have exploring the world around them. I love how each page has just one word, with the opposite word on the other page, because the illustrations speak volumes for the concept. 

Whoever reads the book to another reader can easily elaborate more on the story to make it more fun, asking questions about what the children do as they play happily in what could be one single day. As a National Trust book I think it does a brilliant job of enticing readers to check out the countryside, while teaching them how they should be behave outside: there's a short poem which I think may be anonymous, but one I saw and remembered as a child along the lines of 

'Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, verb nothing but time.'

 I don't remember the exact words, indicated with the italic word, but it's a good motto to go by. Flowers, even wild ones, shouldn't be picked because whole ecosystems rely on them. Pictures don't harm nature (obviously stay safe while you take them), all litter should be taken home so it can't harm anything, and whatever that word is time is all that should pass/be done on your visit. Through using so few words this book echoes that sentiment.

Suggested read 

A book which is full of more words and facts but equally as fun for older readers is from a series that I highly recommend: A Kiwi Year and A Canadian Year by Tania McCarney and Tina Snerling (Children's, Non-fiction, 10E/10E)

Bob and Co: Colours and Numbers by Nicola Killen (Children's, Picture book, Board book, 10E/10E)

 10th August 2017, Blomsbury Children's, 10 pages, Board book, Review copy 

Summary from Bloomsbury 

Series

Hello! Meet Bobo the panda and his friends, Snap the crocodile, Riff the giraffe and the rest of the gang, in this enjoyable and engaging new lift-the-flap first concept series – perfect for inquisitive little minds everywhere!

Bobo & Co: Colours 

Bobo the panda and his friends want to paint a picture for their friend Snap, but oh-oh! Things get a bit messy! Open the large flaps to see what has happened in this funny and simple story about colours.  

Bobo & Co: Numbers 

Bobo the panda is playing hide and seek with his friends. How many friends can he find? Open the large flaps to see where they're hiding in this funny and simple story about counting.

 

Nayu's thoughts

This is apparently a new series and certainly one I'm eager for more titles. The easy to lift pages are sturdy and have what feels like a wipe clean surface so could be easy to clean if mucky hands get on them. While the numbers tale was a little predictable to me as an older reader (counting involving 10 usually goes in order), I loved the fun atmosphere the friends had playing with each other. 

The Colours book was my favourite, as I had no idea what was coming next. The scenes under the flaps were hilarious, I enjoyed the common actions of children painting,  and the effects of them lasted until the end of the tale which was cleverly done. 

Friendship is definitely a central themein both books, in helping readers learn about the world around them, as well as teaching valuable lessons like not leaving toys for people to trip up on if you don't want paint splattered about. And that hide and seek is a fun game with friends! Maybe the books are paint proof on purpose...

Find out more on Nicola's website. 

Suggested read 

Another fun board book little hands will be eager to get hold of is Wee Gallery: Pets, A Slide and Play Book by Surya Sajnani (Children's, Board Book, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

Baby Touch and Feel I Love You (Children's, Board book, 9/10E)

Aww! Bunnies!

January 2017, Dorling Kindersley, 14 pages, Board book, Review copy 

Summary from Dorling Kindersley

Baby Touch and Feel I Love You is a fun DK baby book that helps little ones learn new words. With touchy-feely pictures and word labels, it makes an ideal baby gift. 

Baby Touch and Feel I Love You contains stunning photos with foil or textured areas that expand your baby's senses, while the simple visuals and labels promote language skills. From shiny love hearts beside a little girl hugging her toy to a baby with a fleecy heart on his vest, you can introduce your baby to the concept of love with touch and feel textures.

All this is packed in a handy, small format that's just perfect for preschoolers to hold, and helps develop their fine motor skills.

Nayu's thoughts 

DK This small book is full of cute things all related to love. I like the kittens and teddies the best! They are photos rather than illustrations which will help young readers learn to identify similar objects. The mirror at the back was a nice touch. The book is very sturdy with thick pages that can endure rough handling. 

The only issue I have with the book is fairly significant because it's the touch and feel part. All such parts are smaller than the ones on the front cover, some being barely bigger than a 5p coin. Considering the whole point is to touch things, I feel these parts should have been a lot bigger. A wide selection of textures are used, and I feel if younger readers read this alone their hands may not easily find the feel parts. Apart from this it's an excellent read. 

Suggested read

For more touch and feel fun check out Wee Gallery: Pets, A Slide and Play Book by Surya Sajnani (Children's, Board Book, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

Pairs! In the Garden & Underwater by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Lorna Scobie (Children's, Board book, Picture book)

2nd February 2017, Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 12 pages, Board book, Review copy 

Summary from Quarto

In the Garden

Lift the flaps to find the matching pairs in this fun novelty series that's all about habitats! This book has seven die-cut flaps on every spread for little ones to lift to find the matching pairs, and spot the odd one out. Lift stones to find snails, grass to find ladybirds and lettuce leaves to find caterpillars, then answer a simple counting question. 

Summary from Quarto

Underwater 

Lift the flaps to find the matching pairs in this fun novelty series that's all about habitats! This book has seven die-cut flaps on every spread for little ones to lift to find the matching pairs and spot the odd one out. Lift stones to find turtles, seaweed to find seahorses and shells to find crabs, then answer a simple counting question. 

Nayu's thoughts

These books are perfect for introducing younger readers into these two very different worlds. The rhymes on each double page spread are catchy, and as well as the main pairs to find other suggestions are given to the reader what to look for. I'm quite sure that a parent/guardian/teacher/older reader could find some extra search items too. There is so much on a page that each needs a minute or two to take in fully. The flaps are easy to open and sturdy. 

One thing which bothered me slightly about the flaps is that on some pages each flap is exactly the same. Seeing that some are different, I wondered why this was the case. I'm writing this a few days after reading the book and now I'm thinking maybe the flaps which have no differences on the flap part (the pictures underneath are different) are to make the matching game harder. Either way it's an issue which probably won't mystify most readers! 

I'd love to have more books in the series looking at the sky, mountains, deserts, and woodland!

 

Find out more on Smriti's website and Lorna's website.

Suggested read 

Check out another fun (& mega cute!) lift the flap book Hello Kitty Baby See and Say First Words (Children's, Board book, Non-fiction, 10E/10E)

 

Wee Gallery Farm and Hush! Little Bear Is Sleeping by QED, Children's, Picture book, Board book, 10/10E)

 October 2016, QED Publishing, 8 pages, Board book, Review copy 

Farm summary from QED 

Little fingers can easily learn how to move the novelty sliders to reveal favorite animals and their names and sounds in this interactive board book. Beautiful illustrations, bold lines, whimsical animals, and repeating patterns are designed to stimulate visual development in young infants.

Hush! Little Bear is Sleeping summary from QED 

Features five different sound chips and adorable illustrations carefully created to help children's awareness development.

Nayu's thoughts 

This ace series comes with noise! Farm is of the standard no noise book, with easy to slide parts on the page with the animal on. Hush..Little Bear is Sleeping was a pleasant surprise because on each page there's a button to press! Unfortunately I didn't have the right battery so don't know what the noises sound like, nonethless it's a clever addition, adding a new dimension to the classic sliding books.

The animals are easy to recognise with various black patterns on their body - I've heard babies respond to black and white images which I guess this is why the series is like this. There are splashes of colour but nothing too elaborate. The books are sturdy enough to handle frequent handling and I look forward to more books in the future. 

Suggested read

Check out the others in the series including Wee Gallery: Pets, A Slide and Play Book by Surya Sajnani (Children's, Board Book, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

My Little World: I Love My Daddy by Jonathan Litton and Fhiona Galloway (Children's, Picture Book, Board Book, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

May 2016, Little Tiger Press, 16 pages, Board book, Review copy

 

Summary from Little Tiger Press

Find out why each dad deserves his shiny star in this concentric, colourful book of giving.

Nayu's thoughts 

Published in time for Father's day in June this read is good at any time of the year! On every double page there's a child with their daddy who does something with or for them which makes them pleased and give him a star. The cut out stars get smaller and smaller, with a compassionate ending that made me go aww. I love the cute and vivid illustrations, especially when the lion parent has a lion toy looking just like him on a shelf! 

Each animal does an activity which best suits their nature, making it a good way to chat about animals, and also humans as we are all good at different things. The one thing in common is the love the children have for their fathers, which is huge, but not as much as the fathers love them. Possibly not an easy read for those without fathers or who have not so nice ones, but most readers will be able to relate to the feelings explored, and maybe try out a new hobby with their father.

Wee Gallery: Pets, A Slide and Play Book by Surya Sajnani (Children's, Board Book, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 March 2016, QED, 6 pages, Board book, Review copy 

Summary from QED

Get ready for some fun and interactive learning with this slide and play board book! 
Little fingers can easily learn how to move the sliders to reveal four favourite household pets and their names in this interactive board book.
Move the sliders to reveal words and animals with each spread having a Touch & Feel effect.
- See more at: http://www.quartoknows.com/books/9781784934316/Wee-Gallery-Board-Books-Pets.html#sthash.BFMPjMpI.dpuf

Get ready for some fun and interactive learning with this slide and play board book! 
Little fingers can easily learn how to move the sliders to reveal four favourite household pets and their names in this interactive board book.
Move the sliders to reveal words and animals with each spread having a Touch & Feel effect.
- See more at: http://www.quartoknows.com/books/9781784934316/Wee-Gallery-Board-Books-Pets.html#sthash.BFMPjMpI.dpuf

Little fingers can easily learn how to move the sliders to reveal four favourite household pets and their names in this interactive board book.

Move the sliders to reveal words and animals with each spread having a Touch & Feel effect.

Nayu's thoughts

Although the illustrations arent 100% my cup of tea, this is a sweet read for young readers. The simple black and white with a blob of colour on each page is apparently perfect for babies, more tham coloured books. Don't ask me why, I've just heard it being said. I like how the animal is described on the left stage then shown on the right. 

I found sliding parts of the animal up and down rather fun! They all slide smoothly, and will provide minutes of fun for children of all ages. I have to say that some readers may be a bit amused by the book series title, Wee Gallery. I know it's a Scottish word for something small, which denotes the series as being for young children, but a few readers may see it and think wee as in pee, which isn't part of the book at all! There, it had to be said ^o^

My Little World: I Love My Mummy by Little Tiger Kids (Children's, Board book, 10E10E, short 'n' sweet review)

 March 2016, Stripes Publishing, 16 pages, Board Book, Review copy 

Summary from Little Tiger Press

Join a colourful cast of characters who all want to say thank you to their mummy in this blossoming book of giving. The bright artwork from Fhiona Galloway, finger holes and cheerful rhyming text help make learning come to life. 

Nayu's thoughts    

A delightful book celebrating mothers! I love how each mother and child are a different animal in a different surrounding, with different reasons for being loved. Each scene is brightly coloured and cute, with a continuation of the cut out flowers on every page. It celebrates how different mothers are, what they do for their child and encourages giving thanks to them. The book itself is very sturdy, perfect for little hands to hold and yes to some it's probably is tasty!

To Baby With Love: Wishes For Baby by Sarah Ward (Children's, Board Book, Picture book, Activity book, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

1st March 2016, Little Tiger Press, 30 pages, Hardback, Review copy

Summary from Little Tiger Press

Friends and family can write their hopes and dreams for the new baby in this beautiful keepsake book. Perfect to share with guests at a baby shower, Christening, or that special first visit. Baby's personalised book will be treasured for years to come. With gorgeous illustrations, padded cover and stylish elastic band closure.

 

Nayu's thoughts

From what is becoming my favourite baby series the illustrations are mega cute and colourful, making me go gooey just looking at them. The pages are filled with pictures and various blank shapes with room to write a message to the baby. There are so many, it would be fun to surprise a new mother with this mostly filled from friends and family. 

Here's a random page for you to see

At the end of the book there's a wish tree, to place wishes for baby.

Each writing section has From... At the end, leaving space for the person's name. The last pages have a wishing tree to write hopes for baby. The sturdy ribbon keeping the book closed is durable and cute with the heart motifs. This is a well thought out read which baby can keep as they grow up, be they a boy or a girl. 

Find out more on Sarah's website.

To Baby With Love: Goodnight Baby by Sarah Ward (Children's, Picture book, Board book, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

You can ruffle the ear!

February 2016, Little Tiger Press, 10 pages, Hardback, Review copy

Summary from Little Tiger Press 

Say "Goodnight!" to Elephant and friends in this gorgeous first book for Baby. With a touch-and-feel crinkly cover, sturdy pages and gentle rhyming text, it's perfect for sharing with your baby at bedtime. 

Nayu's thoughts

This story about a standard bedtime routine is bursting with cuteness! Every page took my breath away, making me wish I had a higher rating to get across how perfect it is. I was going 'aw' from the adorable bear slippers, and how the cozy mouse looks asleep. (Pictures are brighter than the ones I took) 

This is a delightful read, one so much so I'm going to keep it for now. I usually pass these type of books on when a friend has a baby, but this one has captured my heart. It helps set out routines which children (and adults) need. A definite thumbs up from me!

Find out more on Sarah's website.