My first book of the FARM / My first book of OPPOSITES

My first book of the FARM /
My first book of OPPOSITES

By Alain Grée

Published by Button Books

I must admit I've been keeping me eye on the Alain Grée series as I'm a big fan of his retro style illustrations. There's 9 books in the My First Book series as well as flash cards, hard backs and activity books featuring his distinctive style, all published by Button Books. 

My First Book of the Farm is a board book covering a good selection of animals and what you may find on a farm. Animals, such as cows, pigs, sheep and goats as well as farmers. It gives a few selection of birds and jobs the farmer may undertake, like looking after the animals and growing food. Farm vehicles are also mentioned. It's a lovely introduction for very young children. 

Aoife is now at the age where she is taking a huge interest in animals and enjoys visiting the farm which makes this a great book to use to help identify animals and learning the words for the food and vehicles that she may have seen. She already likes looking through the book by herself and making the sounds of the animals.

My First Book of Opposites is filled with a good collection of opposites; big, small, light, heavy, hot, cold, empty and full among a few more. The illustrations are clear and easily convey the words well. Alain Grée's illustrations are simple but engaging.

I've only seen two books from this series but I'm definitely considering a few others for Aoife. Other subjects include Animals, Colours, Letters, Nature, Numbers, Sounds and Vehicles. These books are sturdy little board books, suitable for babies and young children. You can find more information on this series here.

To Baby With Love

To Baby With Love - 
Wishes For Baby, Hello Baby & Peekaboo Baby

 Illustrated by Sarah Ward

Published by Little Tiger Press

Little Tiger Press have added more books to the series - To Baby With Love. A sweet range of books all illustrated by Sarah Ward. These books are ideal for parents-to-be, a baby shower or maybe even a Christening. Other books in the series include To Baby With Love and Goodnight Baby. 

Wishes For Baby is a beautiful keepsake book for friends and family to write their hopes and dreams for the new baby. It's filled with cute animal characters and offers a variety of different shaped spaces for people's messages and wishes. There is a pastel colour palette used throughout the series which makes these books suitable for baby girls and boys. 

Wishes For Baby will be available from the 11th February, in all good bookshops and online here.

Hello Baby is a lovely first book for babies. With a touch and feel crinkly Lion's mane on the front cover, this board book features a range of cute animals all having fun. Each spread starts with "Hello" followed by gentle rhyming text. 

Even though Aoife (20 months) liked Hello Baby, it was Peekaboo Baby that held her attention for longer. Another sturdy board back book that features flaps and a surprise mirror at the end.

Aoife enjoyed lifting the flaps and pointing out the animals but she was all smiles when she found the mirror on the very last page. 

To Baby With Love is a lovely range of first baby books, suitable for ages 0-2. I believe that any one of these books would make a lovely gift, with sweet animals, each book has a lovely quality; thick covers and sturdy pages, even Wishes For Baby has a nice padded cover and good quality pages, a book to be treasured. 

Hello Baby and Peekaboo Baby will be available to buy from the 11th February, online here, and here.

A Cat Called Panda

A Cat Called Panda

Written by Melanie Arora and illustrated by Charlie Brandon-King
Published by Button Books

A Cat Called Panda, written by Melanie Arora, features a naughty cat explaining his unusual name to a young girl named Amanda. Written as a whimsical nonsense-style poem and aimed at ages 1+, this delightful little book would make a great gift for any age, young and old. 

Panda is a cat who is very fond of bamboo and tries to explain to Amanda that though he is called Panda, he is very much a cat. A cat who has bright green eyes and can see in the dark and can make dogs bark! He is a cat and it’s as simple as that! 

It features a monochrome theme throughout with splashes of colour. Children will be able to spot all the different animals that are black and white, such as a panda, badger, magpies and cows among many more.

The illustrations are simple, but being black and white the images are striking. I especially like the hard back cover under the slip cover, a striking animal pattern of white on black. A Cat Called Panda is available in all good bookshops or online here.