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Showing posts from July, 2010

What Makes a Baby Book Good?

Sturdy board pages. A rainbow of baby faces. Verse rhythm and rhyme. Playful, patterned artwork that pops from the page. All of which brings me to a final note (for now) about children's book illustrator Annie Kubler. Pictures can make or break a baby book's appeal. Kubler draws babies front and center, in the middle of things, just where they like to be! Her page action is simple. Each drawing carries one main idea or topic for conversation. Young children are grand imitators. Kubler's characters are often partnered with stuffed animals, 'lovies,' who imitate them . Her babies simply can't sit still! Sound like someone you know? Born in France, Annie Kubler lives and works in the UK. She is the Art Director at Child's Play International , an English publishing firm that specializes in books for the youngest reader.

Reading to Babies (Plural!)

Toddlers sometimes run in packs. The habitat varies: Daycare centers, playgroups, public libraries, family reunions, Y-care, playgrounds, church basements, families graced with multiple births. Three books by Annie Kubler play particularly well in small group settings.  Hands ready? The nursery song Ten Little Fingers (2003) is a fun-filled read that ends on a quiet note. It won an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Best Book Award . Ring Around A Rosie (2003) illustrates the circle game of the same name. It includes a second verse, Fishes in the water, Fishes in the sea ..., which gets children back on their feet ... W ith a one, two, three! I'm a Little Teapot! (2007) sets up pretend play. Kubler paints toddlers in togs that mimic the colors of a teapot. They are the teapot! Tottering two-year-olds stand on one foot and bend: Tip me up, and pour me out! Balance skills! At book's end, a   tea party. Does your toddler have a favorite nursery rhyme book?

Lose the Shoes!

This Little Piggy (2008), Annie Kubler's version of the popular rhyme, requires barefoot reading. Each two-page spread features a toddler touching a toe on the left and, dressed as a pink pig, acting out verse on the right. Ralphie as a rabbit in The Christmas Story comes to mind. Kubler draws five tikes across ten pages. Early vocabulary words- ball, book, blocks, and cup- are introduced on pages 3 and 4. A baby crisis occurs on pages 7 and 8: This little piggy had none! Major upset! You can talk about feelings. An opportunity to mimic animal sounds (yes, a pig) presents itself on pages 9 and 10. Adaptable for babies of all ages, This Little Piggy is perfect for 12- to 18-month-olds.

Author in the Spotlight: Annie Kubler

Illustrator Annie Kubler turns traditional nursery rhymes and songs into action tales. Perfect for busy babies and toddlers, her board books set the stage for off-the-page play. If You're Happy and You Know It... (2001)  is based on the song of the same name. The first stanza is set to music and printed in its entirety on the back cover. A total of eight song actions are pictured inside. For example, If You're Happy and You Know It... Clap your hands! (Babies clasp their hands at about 4 months of age.) Hide away! (Babies start peek-a-boo play at about 6 months.) Rattle and shake! (Babies as young as two and a half months can shake a light rattle.) Sing and play sans book throughout the day : Push some blocks! (Babies can build a tower with two alphabet blocks at about 12 months of age.) When you revisit the thick board pages, they will have more meaning. Note: Developmental stages are taken from the original Hawaii Early Learning Profile and describe grou