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Interactive Books

Wild Animals By Xavier Deneux

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Wild AnimalsIvy is fascinated by this multi-sensory board book which shows wild animals and their habitats.

Each page features a different animal and they’re all beautifully drawn with really cute faces. The combination of raised and concave sections (which fit together so that the pages aren’t bulky in any way) give your child lots to explore. They can trace their fingers across the bumps and shapes whilst trying to identify the different creatures. Our favourite is the zebra page – Ivy loves the baby zebra hidden amongst the stripy trees!

The book also provides some inspiration for older toddlers by showing a small word cluster for each animal. The combination of nouns, adjectives and verbs will teach them new words and also give parents some great discussion points around the pictures.

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Touch! My Big Touch-And-Feel Word Book

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Touch!We have lots of word books but this big chunky board version is definitely Ivy’s favourite. It features 150 words across a wide variety of topics, including clothes, food, vehicles, animals, mealtime and bedtime.

Each durable page features at least one textured image for your child to play with – a cosy blanket, a rough sponge, a corduroy jacket, some denim jeans – which make the book a great interactive experience as well as a learning tool.

The animal section is definitely the highlight, with really cute illustrations and lots of fur to stroke and scales to explore.

My only criticism (as someone in the UK) is that there is a handful of Americanisms in here (zucchini, eggplant etc) but it’s such a small percentage that I don’t feel it affects the book as a whole.

Buy it now: https://amzn.to/2jyVuZK

Don’t Wake Up Tiger! By Britta Teckentrup

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Don't Wake Up Tiger!A small band of woodland animals are on their way to a party but they’re in a hurry because they’re running late. They’re almost there when they come across a big sleeping tiger who is blocking their path. They need to get across him without waking him up – but how? With a cunning plan of course!

Fortunately they have lots of balloons for the party so they agree to take it in turns to float across the tiger holding on to a balloon. Your child is encouraged to help by doing things like blowing on the balloon to make it go faster and stroking the tiger’s nose to keep him nice and sleepy.

Will their plan work and will they all make it to the party on time?

Britta Teckentrup‘s gorgeous illustrations are on point as always, and the simple story and gentle interactions make this a must for any toddler library. This is one of our favourites.

 

Buy from Bookshop.org and support independent bookshops: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/155/9780857638601

Buy from Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2HlhzsL

Note these are affiliate links and Ivy’s Library will receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through them.

Beautiful OOPS! By Barney Saltzberg

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Beautiful OOPS!This creative little book is a fantastic tool for teaching children that it’s healthy to make mistakes.

Every page features a spill or a smudge or a tear which could be deemed a disaster to a small child – but the clever illustrations and the excellent paper craftsmanship shows that each little mistake is in fact an opportunity.

A torn page becomes the mouth of a crocodile. Some spilled paint becomes a pile of puppies, some ducks and then an elephant. A bent page becomes a penguin’s beak and a scrunched up piece of paper becomes a lovely sheep.

Ivy enjoys saying ‘OOPS!’ at the turn of each page and is always excited to see what the oops will become. Her favourite is the dog’s head created from a torn scrap of paper.

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Just Like Me! By Joshua Seigal & Amelie Faliere

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Just Like Me!This book is fantastic for alleviating boredom when you’re stuck indoors with a toddler and it’s lots of fun for parent and child alike.

The two main characters – a little girl and a fluffy green monster wearing a rather fetching hat – invite their animal friends (and you) to copy them in a game called ‘Just Like Me’.

Clear some space on the floor and get your toddler to repeat all of the actions which the characters make. From rubbing your tummy and licking your lips to jumping up and down picking your nose, each page invites you and your child to do something silly that will make you laugh.

I find that the more exaggerated I make the actions then the more Ivy laughs and she loves getting involved. It also references lots of parts of the body so it’s a great way of learning some new words whilst having fun.

Buy it now: https://amzn.to/2uI3yzB

 

Please And Thank You By Amanda Li

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Please And Thank YouI’ve recently bought a number of Pirate Pete and Princess Polly books as I find them really effective. Each book in the series introduces your child to a change in their daily life which they may experience as a toddler – and may push back against because it’s unfamiliar and therefore potentially frightening.

The series covers many things including potty training, moving to a big girl/boy bed, going to nursery and becoming a big brother/sister.

This particular book is about manners and it has really encouraged Ivy to say please and thank you more often. 

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Fox’s Socks By Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

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Fox's SocksThis is another lovely lift-the-flap book from Julia Donaldson’s Acorn Wood series.

Poor fox wakes up in the morning and discovers he’s lost his socks. He searches all over the house and it’s your job to help him by lifting the flaps to open, trunks and doors and cupboards.

He finds an assortment of different clothes in strange locations, but where on earth are his socks?

The combination of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is always magical and this one is no exception!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2CnUBhR

Firefly Home By Jane Clarke & Britta Teckentrup

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Firefly HomeFlorence the Firefly is lost and trying to find her way home. Every time she sees a light she flies towards it in the hope it is her family but finds herself on a wild goose chase following trains and lighthouses and even the moon!

This lovely story invites you, the reader, to help Florence find her way by flapping your hands to help her fly faster and pointing to the right places in the pictures.

Can you help her get home?

Ivy loves this one but hasn’t quite mastered the word firefly. When she wants me to read this one she asks for the FlyFly book!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2o8AziO

Silly Dizzy Dinosaur by Jack Tickle

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Silly Dizzy DinosaurIvy LOVES Silly Dizzy Dinosaur by Jack Tickle.The story calls for lots of interaction so it’s perfect for burning off some excess energy.

Dizzy is a big,red dinosaur who loves to be tickled but is a tiny bit clumsy.As you move through the book you need to tickle him, talk to him and rotate/shake the book to keep him happy and stop him from hurting himself. However despite your best efforts he bumps his nose and you need to give him a big kiss to make him feel better.

Whenever this book comes out we read it multiple times in a row and there are always fits of giggles (from both of us!)

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2E2pc5d

Snuggle The Baby by Sara Gillingham

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Snuggle The BabyThis book is so fantastic that I can’t really do it justice in a mini review. It’s beautifully illustrated, well thought out and a great interactive learning tool.

The book itself talks about babies – how to look after them, how to play with them and how to show them love. However what lifts this above other books about babies is the fact you can interact with the pictures and even take the baby and her bottle out of the book to play with.

Ivy loves getting the baby out and keeping it by her side – kissing her, talking to her, feeding her milk and rocking her back and forth – but she always makes sure that she puts her safely back to bed in the back of the book so she doesn’t get lost.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2BmgMQK