Tag Lorna Freytag

Everybody Belongs / Where’s Brian’s Bottom?

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Everybody Belongs
Lorna Freytag
Studio Press

In her latest board book Lorna Freytag celebrates difference in some of its many forms.
Exploring body shape and size, genetic colouration of various features, language and more, she shows how what we are has been influenced by environmental factors.

Even within close family, we’re all different– unique – after all, and how dull things would be, were it not so.
Very young children often pay little heed to such things as skin colour when making friends, but sadly sometimes later on, the notion of racial difference in particular, especially if drawn attention to by adults, may affect the choices they make, so it’s great to have a book such as this to reinforce the idea that being different is a cause for celebration.

Where’s Brian’s Bottom?
Rob Jones
Pavilion

Brian is an exceedingly long sausage dog. Such is his extreme length that he can’t find his own bottom and so needs help to locate it. His place of residence has five rooms and starting in the hall, little ones can join him in his search. However, it’s not there as Pauline parrot informs us. Nor is it in the living room where Alan the hamster says he hasn’t a clue of its whereabouts. What about the kitchen wherein tortoise Dave chomps his way through some tasty leaves?

Or maybe the bathroom – it looks promising but it turns out to be another part of Brian’s anatomy that’s on the loo, so wherever is that missing rear end?

Toddlers will assuredly giggle their way though this zany concertina board book that unfolds to around 2 metres. There are two sides to the story though: one has the questions and answer text concerning the hunt for Brian’s derriere. However opening it the opposite way reveals that his home is almost overrun with small furry and feathered creatures frolicking and feasting,

of which the sleeping Brian is blissfully unaware.

Clever design and zany playful visual storytelling make for a hugely enjoyable experience for the very young.

Oceans and Feelings Explored in Board Books

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Oceans
Lorna Freytag
Studio Press

This is one of the Ecobaby board book series that aims to introduce the very youngest children to important environmental issues, and assuredly it’s never too soon to start thinking about the importance of caring for the planet.

In Oceans, little ones are told about the threat ocean flora and fauna are under from plastic pollution; how over-fishing is depleting the fish population …

and ships are pouring polluting oil into the sea.

Finally come some suggestions to help make a difference.
Author/illustrator Lorna Freytag ‘s succinct text and simple, almost diagrammatic, illustrations put across the crucial message adeptly and one hopes this and its companion book Recycling will set under 4s off on the path to being ecowarriors.

When I am Happy
Sometimes I am Angry
illustrated by Marie Paruit
Campbell Books

Written in collaboration with early years consultant Dr Janet Rose, are these two board books in the Little BIG Feelings series.

The Happy book introduces Bella, Jamie, Zach and members of their families, and shows examples of how kindness and inclusion lead to happiness. So too do thinking about life’s ‘good things’,

doing things you enjoy and staying healthy. It’s no surprise to see that happiness is infectious. I had no trouble moving the slider – just one of the book’s interactive features – all the way to 10 as I thought of things that make me happy.

It’s all too easy to have angry feelings bubbling up in these difficult times (I’ll say no more) but little ones such as Oliver, Amy and their friends all of whom are at a party, find things that make them feel angry too.

Oliver finds his face getting red, his heart beating super fast and his fists curling when somebody knocks his block tower down. Others are not happy about the food, the drink incident, and Evie’s anger is not getting the hat she wants.

Fortunately each of the party grumpies can demonstrate a way to diffuse those feelings of anger and there’s a final slider to assist your little one(s) with calming down.

Both books have a final spread for parents/carers containing advice and strategies to try.

As the logo on each front cover informs, these are just right for ‘Sharing and Talking’.

For nursery collections and family shelves where there are very young children.