What Does Doggy Want?
David Wojtowycz
Walker Books
Clever design, bright visuals, an endearing character and a simple repeating patterned text combine to make a delightfully playful, interactive book for babies. By placing a finger in the hole and moving it up and down, small hands can make the Doggy shake his head to say “NO”

to various items offered until at last, he gets exactly what he’s been waiting for;

and then he nods his head affirmatively.
The same formula works for a companion volume

What Does Monkey Want?
David Wojtowycz
Walker Books
In this instance a series of actions is suggested all of which receives a “No”

(A side-to-side movement is needed this time) because, as we eventually discover, Monkey just wants to …

In addition to enjoying a simple story, these two books offer the very young opportunities for the development of manipulative skills.

All Shook Up!
Alain Crozon
Chronicle Books
Manipulative opportunities abound in this playful board book that features animals of all shapes and sizes. You can make the chick flutter its feathers, the butterfly flap its wings up and down,

the elephant swing its trunk and shake its ears, or the hippo poke out its tongue, for instance.
Primary colours (and black and white) are used to great effect in this rapping, rhyming flap book.

Chooky-doodle-doo
Jan Whiten and Sinéad Hanley
Walker Books
‘One Little chooky chick/pulling at a worm. /Clucky cluck, worm’s stuck./What should chooky do?’
Thus begins an enormously appealing board book that combines counting fun, rhyme and a delicious final twist. Oh! and there’s teamwork too.

I love the slightly acid tones and the textural effects of Sinéad Hanley’s amusing illustrations.
Just the thing to share with the youngest listeners.

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