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Peek-a-boo Books

Peek-a-boo play helps teach object permanence. Peek-a-boo books cue peek-a-boo play. They make great reading for babies.

What is object permanence?

It is the rabbit in the hat, out of sight, but still on stage. It is knowing that people and objects carry on after they leave your field of vision. Imagine a cement truck pouring a concrete foundation for thinking skills development. Object permanence is in the mix. Once set, babies think about people and things differently. Labels and attributes stick. A sense of security builds. Expectations and attachments form. According to developmental psychologist Jean Piaget, object permanence emerges at about nine months of age.

My favorite peek-a-boo book for young babies is Peek-a WHO? (2000) by Nina Laden. Six mitt-sized, peanut-shaped holes cue hands-on reading. Peek-a WHO? Turn the cover page and find an owl. You can Peek a MOO! and Peek a CHOO-CHOO! A large mirror insert fills the last page: Peek a YOU! The book itself makes a fun screen for peek-a-boo play.

Classic Pat the Bunny (1940) by Dorothy Kunhardt has two pages of peek-a-boo play: Judy can play peek-a-boo with Paul. Now YOU play peek-a-boo with Paul. He's hiding under a fabric flap.

PEEK-A-BOO! (1997) and PEEPO! (1999), the UK version, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg offer a more detailed text and illustrated page. Circle cut-outs prompt peeks at baby's day.
Here's a little baby,
One, two, three
Stands in his crib
What does he see?

A page turn shows a sleepy mom and dad in bed surrounded by cozy clutter to pick through and label: a pair of boots, a duck, a clock, a toy piano ....
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