Sneak Peak: Kiki's Blankie

Author/Illustrator: Janie Bynum 

Publisher: Sterling Publishing

Length: 20 pages

Size: 7 by 7 inches

Format: Board book

A board book edition of Kiki's Blankie (2009) is set for release this February, right around the corner! In praise of Kiki, not all hardcover picture books are a good fit for the smaller book format. Cinderella's step-sisters and the glass slipper come to mind. Kiki, however, succeeds. Maybe, it's the cape.

Kiki is a spirited monkey with a blanket attachment, a blue and white polka-dotted lovey. She never goes anywhere without it. Kiki pretends her blanket is a bandana, then a cape, so she can be a pirate, a super hero. She pretends it is a tent, then a sail, so she can camp, sail, and soar! Sometimes Kiki's blanket is just a blanket, so Kiki can, well, be Kiki.

A simple plot mirrors real life. Kiki loves her blanket. Kiki loses her blanket. MY BLANKIE IS GONE! Kiki finds her blanket. And yes, there is a crocodile.

Part of the book's likely appeal to a new, younger audience lies in Bynum's artwork. Kiki's smiling, wide-open face connects. Bynum's generous use of white space creates a clean, uncluttered page. Her colors are fresh. She keeps background noise to a minimum. The visual story is simple and accessible, yet it is detailed enough to survive repeat reads. There's lots to label and talk about. The new edition has a raised, velvety binding. A nice touch!

Make-believe play emerges between 18 and 24 months of age. At first, little ones find it easiest to pretend when a pretend item is similar in shape, form, or function to the real thing. Telephoning with a banana is fun and funny. Talking into an orange is just plain silly. You could, however, pretend an orange is ...

Peel a banana with Kiki!

AGES AND STAGES: 24-36 months (Child sees self as a separate person, compares self to others, feels strongly possessive of loved ones, plays make-believe with toys, enjoys tactile books)

Ages and Stages are based on The Hawaii Developmental Charts developed by Setsu Furuno, Ph.D., Katherine O'Reilly, PT, Takayo Inatsuka, OTR, Carol Hosaka, M.A. and Barbara Zeisloft Falbey, M.S., CCC-SLP. They are meant to be a general guide for book play. Abilities vary from child to child.