Author and Illustrator: Frane Lessac
Publisher: Walker Books, 2005
Now here's a thing- a toddler book written with a West Indian accent. Set on 'One little island in the Caribbean Sea' this little gem of board book counts (from 1-10) based on aspects of island life, including 'nine limbo dancers swaying in a line', 'three painted houses sitting high on a hill' and 'five market ladies wearing shady hats'. Using syllabic verse on a beat of 1,2,2,2,2,1 the book is a whistle stop tour of bright, breezy gouache illustrations. I especially like this page...
...as it presents a very cheery, if stereotypical, depiction of The Caribbean (see also 'six cricket players waiting with their bats'). With colourful bunting, streamers and lanterns on most pages, the book builds up to number ten 'Carnival time!' before counting back up to 10 again and ending. It's a loud, fun toddler book, more of a midday wake-up read than a bedtime, calm-down read. This book is also a really nice way to start introducing a different culture, or what life is like in another country to young children (we're based in the UK, apologises if reading from 'one little Island in the Carribean sea').
If you like this you might also like: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author and illustrator: Susan Stegall
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Limited, 2008
This is one of my favourite books for the 2-4 year old category, but as 1 year George proved tonight, can be enjoyed by younger ones too. Essentially this is a poem using onomatopoeia to describe a train journey to the seaside. Once read a few times, children easily join in and get a feel for the words sounding like the experience: 'rattle and rap, clickety clack'. The beautiful vibrant illustrations in this book are copies of collages using various layers of textured paper. Given this, Steggall's attention to detail is incredible, collage tractors, cows and ploughed fields ( just some examples) with such depth due to the texture and grain of
the paper ripped, cut, scored. In the past I've used this book to prompt the children in creating their own train journey collages. The simplicity and repetition of the story is very comforting and I never tire of reading this book. Tonight five year old Bert fixed on the reoccurring train passengers, where is the businessman with beard sitting now? Where is the guy with the surfboard? There's the family at the start meeting grandma on the platform. There's also a nice cross reference to another Steggall book, On the Road, with the same children in the red mini reappearing and the same pedestrians pushing buggies and walking dogs.
We were bought this book as a gift years ago, and I honestly think it's one of the best presents we've ever received. It's a perfect book for toddlers, and continues to be a favourite through to rising five. One to treasure, a favourite and highly recommended.
