Beautiful Board Books for Babies and Toddlers #2

There is no better way to encourage a love of books and reading then to introduce books and stories to babies as early as possible – even as early as in the womb! I have seen first hand the positive long term influence and effect that sharing books with babies has, to the point where the first item a child chooses to take to a sleepover or play date is a selection of their favourite books. It is heartwarming when younger readers are excited to choose books to share with family members and friends, and request visits to the local library too. Given that the reading skills a child builds impact their ability to do well across the entire school curriculum it is safe to say that finding the right title to excite and immerse a young reader is key to their longer term success. With that in mind I am delighted to introduce you to my first board book themed blog which is full of amazing titles to inspire, excite, enjoy and indulge in!

I want to be… An Astronaut – Becky Davies (Illustrated by Richard Merritt)

• Due for publication on 6th August 2020
• Published by Little Tiger
• RRP – £6.99
• Additional titles in the series

A completely inspirational board book that tells of how a little girl aspires to be an astronaut when she grows up. Detailing what being up in space will be like in a way that younger readers will understand, and including details such as all the planets of the solar system which ensure that younger readers pick up details and learn along the way whilst they enjoy this book. The final page features a mirror and asks ‘do YOU want to be an astronaut too?’ which incorporates the child into the story, and will undoubtedly inspire them to think about how they would answer that question, and realise that they could be if they wanted to – even girls! The bold and colourful illustrations will capture the interest of readers, and will a two page spread depicting the astronauts uniform this really is an interactive and engaging read.

I want to be … A Firefighter – Becky Davies (Illustrated by Richard Merritt)

• Due for publication on 6th August 2020
• Published by Little Tiger
• RRP – £6.99
• Additional titles in the series (See below)

This is an aptly coloured board book that tells of how a little boy aspires to be a firefighter when he is older. The book details the role of a fireman perfectly, with pets needing rescuing from up in trees, and house fires being rushed to in a fire engine, this is definitely a captivating title to share with younger audiences. The book concludes with a mirror and asks ‘Do YOU want to be a firefighter too?’ so the younger reader can feel included in the story. With bold and colourful illustrations to enjoy throughout the book and double page spreads giving the reader a more interactive and interesting read, this is a fun and thought provoking read irrespective of the readers age!

What Does An Anteater Eat? – Ross Collins

• Published on 2nd July 2020 by Nosy Crow
• Available in other formats
• RRP – £6.99

I have enjoyed this story previously as a paperback, and am delighted that it is now also available in board book format for younger readers to enjoy. The story tells of how an anteater ventures through a variety of habitats and makes enquiries with the animals that live there to understand what exactly it is that an anteater eats! From asking a sloth that is lazing in a tree to asking animals that eye up the anteater as food for themselves, there is a real sense of adventure and curiosity to this story. The book concludes with humour to the end of the tale which will leave younger readers smiling and feeling good. The illustrations are really beautiful, and depict all of the various animals that feature perfectly, which is essential given younger readers are learning to recognise the animals within the book.

Let’s Go! On a Train – Rosalyn Albert and Natalie Moore

• Published on 1st March 2020 by Catch A Star (New Frontier Publishing)
• RRP – £6.99
• Additional titles in this series are available (See below)

Short rhyming sentences accompanying the immersive illustrative content of this book make for a winning combination when looking for a board book detailing an adventure on a steam train. From views you see outside the windows to details of how the train runs and the journey itself, there is much to be learnt from this book for younger readers that are looking to enjoy a book that features trains and the experiences we have aboard them.

Let’s Go! On a Tractor – Rosalyn Albert and Natalia Moore

• Published on 28th June 2020 by Catch A Star (New Frontier Publishing)
• RRP – £6.99
• Additional titles in this series are available (See below)

Rhyming sentences make this an interesting story to share with younger readers who will delight in hearing about the day to day antics on a farm – specifically those activities relating to using a tractor. By the time the farmer has finished for the day the tractor is filthy and needs to be cleaned, put away in the barn ready to start it all again the next day. From plowing fields ready to sow seeds to collecting in the crops, there are some fun activities to accompany the farmer on as he gets his tasks done which the illustrations vividly depict. This is an adorable book for those that want to enjoy farm based adventures and tractors. Lets Go! On a Digger is due for publication in October 2020.

Where’s Mrs Queen? – Ingela P Arrhenius

• Published on 2nd July 2020 by Nosy Crow
• RRP – £6.99
• Additional titles in this series are available (See below)

In a hide and seek themed board book younger readers can look behind the felt flaps to find what they are looking for. London themed in it’s content, children can look for a policeman, mrs bus driver, mr soldier, and the queen. Bold images in bright colours grab your attention on each page, and the flaps make this a fun and engaging book that children will definitely enjoy time and time again.

Sing along with me! A Sailor Went to Sea – Yu-hsuan Huang

• Published on 2nd July 2020 by Nosy Crow
• RRP – £6.99
• Additional titles in the series available (See below)

With the traditional nursery song for text this board book features sliders to engage younger readers along the way as they use them to develop the detail available on each page. As the sailor goes to sea children can hear all about his adventures as they learn the nursery song, with the ability to use the chunky sliders which are perfect for little fingers to create motion within the adventure. This will definitely prove popular through the combination of interaction and lyrical text.

If you missed my first board book themed blog you can find it here, and be sure to keep a look out for more board book related content in the near future too.

a b c nature – Nicola Edwards and Thomas Elliott

• Published by Little Tiger
• Publication date – 6th August 2020
• RRP – £9.99

An utterly stunning board book that features indented lettering for the entire alphabet which allows younger readers to be able to trace the shape of the letters with their fingers and familiarise themselves with the outlines so as to gain confidence in writing. The illustrative content consists of stunning quality, high resolution images that depict the detail younger audiences will be fascinated with, and find themselves immersed amongst the images that reflect each letter e.g giraffe for g. There are examples of both the capital letter and lowercase for children to trace, and beautiful bold coloured pictures compliment each page perfectly. This will prove a huge hit with younger audiences who enjoy being able to interact with the book whilst learning as they go!

If you are looking for more Board Book related news then check out my #1 post here.