It’s the time of year when many of us are looking for gift ideas for the children in our lives, and I always think books are a good option. When I’m choosing a book to give as a gift for a baby or toddler, I want one with some staying power, a book that a child will love so much they go to it again and again.
Of course, every child is different, but some characteristics are almost universally engaging for very young children: Illustrations with easily distinguished shapes and bold colors, photos of other babies and children, sparse text, and books that make the child feel like they are part of the book by asking them questions or giving them instructions. Whether you need a gift idea or want to have some books on hand for young visitors, these four board books, published this year, are at the top of my gift-giving list.
Can You Do This? Super Silly Edition by Megan Roy
Following up on “Can You Do This?",, opens a new window Roy has created this super silly edition board book that encourages children to get moving by asking them to do silly things. “Can you make a super silly face?” “Can you say a silly word?” The zany, colorful illustrations perfectly match the playful text and the energy of the questions. Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy the silly challenges and probably will enjoy it even more if their grown-ups join in.
The Pigeon Won't Count to 10!, opens a new window by Mo Willems
The Pigeon books, opens a new window are some of my favorite children’s books. The Pigeon is sassy and fun to laugh at. The text is interactive, with the Pigeon asking the reader questions or asking them to help with the hijinx, inevitably leading children to talk to and argue with the character on the page. Children eagerly want to know what happens next and whether the Pigeon is going to continue trying to convince them that the naughtiness is justified. This is a clever counting book that will have children requesting it so often that they will remember all the jokes and be able to recite what the pigeon has to say for each number.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Signs: ASL That Babies & Toddlers Can Use From the World of Eric Carle, opens a new window
Chances are good the children in your life know Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar., opens a new window The board book is often gifted to babies and expectant parents and is beloved by readers of all ages. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Signs" is a great way to build on that literary affection. Pages of Caterpillar and other Carle animals are paired with an adjacent page showing a child using American Sign Language signs for a word in the story. The book features common words, such as “eat,” “more,” and “milk.” When you or the child in your life is ready for an expansion of Caterpillar’s story, give this board book a try.
Your Farm,, opens a new window Your Forest,, opens a new window and Your Island, opens a new window by Jon Klassen
Klassen’s distinctive art is perfect for babies and toddlers. The clean lines and blocky shapes on otherwise blank pages are easy for very young children to see and point to. In these three board books, each shape has large, simple, human-like eyes, making them even more appealing to children, who gravitate to the humanizing of all things. On top of all that, Klassen takes a familiar approach by making each page progressively more visually complicated, so each turn of the page becomes a guessing game about what will appear next. The text is sparse and personal to the reader: “This is your sun,” “These are your trees,” “Here is your stream.” The many appeal factors of these books will make them widely appreciated.
Darcie Caswell is Director of Youth Services at CRRL. This column originally appeared in The Free Lance-Star newspaper.
