Book Reviews

Books reviewed 18.03.10     To purchase, enquire at any good bookstore. (View past reviews)

Where’s Spot? : 30th anniversary edition
Eric Hill

Penguin Books
ISBN: 9780723264736
RRP: $19.95

A lift-the-flap book, as in he original, with a teal coloured foil cover reminiscent of wrapping paper.

I spy with Spot
Eric Hill

Penguin Books
ISBN: 9780723264170
RRP: $16.95

This is a turn-the-wheel book; children can turn a wheel at the edge of each page to help Spot with his choices along the way.

Hello Spot!
Eric Hill

Penguin Books
ISBN: 9780723264651
RRP: $9.95

A board book in buggy-book format, it has a plastic snap-handle attached by a fabric strap so that it can be attached to a buggy – I suppose that translates as a pram or stroller in Aussie English. Perfect for the child on the move who has a habit of throwing books out along the way.

The very hungry caterpillar finger puppet book
Eric Carle

Penguin Puffin Books
ISBN: 9780141329949
RRP: $16.95

In board book format with only 12 pages, this takes the section in the original where the caterpillar chews its way through a whole series of fruit and vegetables and adapts this as a counting book, from 1 to 5. A novelty finger puppet caterpillar in plush fabric pokes its way back through the holes in the fruit, so you can wiggle the ‘worm’ as it chews through each of the rainbow-coloured fruit. Designed for toddlers and pre-toddlers sitting on the knee.

A word of caution about novelty books.

Beware of small parts. Those designed for infants and toddlers generally take this into account but others intended for older readers may have small parts or parts that can be torn away by little hands. Be sure the novelty matches the child’s development.