Global Babies, by the Global Fund for Children

The Global Fund for Children. Global Babies. Charlesbridge, 2007. 18 pages. $6.95, ISBN 978-1580891745

AGE LEVEL
0-12 months

GENRE
Board Book

REVIEW
This board book contains photos of babies of both genders and several races from around the world.  Infants will enjoy looking at these colorful and clear images of the faces and torsos of other infants in interesting outfits particular to countries such as South Africa, Guatemala, Greenland, Afghanistan, the U.S.A., and several others.  The backgrounds of the images of the babies are various bright colors such as red, blue, deep pink, yellow, and others.  The babies' faces show a range of expressions.  The text of the book, with only a few words on each page, is: "Wherever they live, wherever they go, whatever they wear, whatever they feel, babies everywhere, are beautiful, special, and loved."  For its simplicity and high visual interest, this is a great book for infants 0-12 months old to enjoy.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
If available, read a picture book-size edition of this book aloud at infant storytime, and pair with the following face rhyme:

          EYES, NOSE, CHEEKY CHEEKY CHIN

          (Touch baby's facial features as you sing to the 
          tune of "Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah".)

          Eyes , nose, cheeky cheeky chin,
          Eyes , nose, cheeky cheeky chin,
          Eyes , nose, cheeky cheeky chin,
          Cheeky cheeky chin, nose, eyes.

The Everything Book, by Denise Fleming

Fleming, Denise. The Everything Book. Henry Holt and Company, 2000. 26 pages. $25.99, ISBN 978-0805088694

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Board Book

REVIEW
In this board book, Fleming really does cover a little bit of everything, including introductions to the alphabet, numbers, body parts, facial expressions, colors, shapes, and seasons.  Notably, the sections on shapes and faces will help pre-readers prepare to develop letter knowledge.  The two-page spread on shapes shows not only triangles, circles, and squares in isolation on the left panel, but also includes a cheery scene of houses and mountains on the right panel which places the shapes in a real-world context. The two-page spread of eight babies' and childrens’ faces exhibits diversity in ethnicities/races, genders, and facial expressions depicted.   Although due to the large variety of concepts it contains, this book verges on the disjointed in a few instances, the striking multi-colored dyed-pulp illustrations effectively mitigate this issue.  Their richness makes one stop and savor each depicted concept separately.  This book is a good choice for babies and toddlers alike.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Although this board book version would be most appropriate for one-on-one parent-child sharing, a picture book version would be an excellent choice for infant storytime.