Media Mix
Whose Knees Are These?
Written by Jabari Asim and illustrated by LeUyen Pham.
This sweet concept book starts by asking, “Whose knees are these?” and then proceeds to take the reader through a series of beautifully illustrated, brightly colored pages until we find out exactly who those knees belong to! The book is written in a simple, cheerful rhyme. Children will enjoy the partial glimpses they get of the knees in action and may even find themselves moving their knees along with the protagonist!
Asim is a poet and author and works at Emerson College in Boston as an associate professor of writing, literature and publishing. He is also the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in creative arts and has written numerous books for children and adults.
Pham is a children’s author and illustrator. She won a Caldecott Honor in 2020 for her illustrations in Bear Came Along.
Paris, A Book of Shapes
Written and illustrated by Ashley Evanson.
This is another darling concept book, but one that introduces shapes … found in Paris! From searching for circles at the Eiffel Tower to tracking down ovals at Versailles, the soft pastel illustrations are a combination of travel and shapes found in architecture. Counting is another concept that could be easily incorporated into reading time with your children.
Paris, A Book of Shapes is just one in a series of Hello World Board Books by Evanson. Other titles include Rio De Janeiro, A Book of Sounds, Toyoko, A Book of Senses and San Francisco, A Book of Numbers, among others.
Evanson has a degree in journalism from Brigham Young University. She worked previously as a writer and editor for LDS Living magazine.
Peek-A-Boo Baby!
By Scholastic, Inc. Early Learners.
Babies of all ages enjoy playing peek-a-boo, but the age of the child will determine the level of play. Newborns 0-3 months will typically watch and may coo or smile, while an older baby (3-6 months) may track your actions. This adorable little book is very playful and perfect for those early “readers.”
Peek-A-Boo Baby! is a sturdy board book that encourages children to lift the flap on each brightly colored page. As they do, they will uncover the faces of different children while playing a game of peek-a-boo. A simple question is asked of the child on each page and is a great opportunity for the reader to engage with the child. Parents can also reinforce emotional awareness as their child uncovers the faces of the children in the book while reading.
Other titles in the First Steps series include Touch and Feel Farm, Touch and Feel Dinos, First Words, Baby Signing and Touch and Feel Winter.
Sandy Foster lives in Grain Valley and is a Bookstagrammer (@picturebookapotamus), freelance writer, and mother of two. You can find children's book reviews and resources at HappyBeingMom.com.