LOOKING GOOD!

An affirming, upbeat board book compares animal features to those of a diverse group of kiddos.

A simple factual statement about an animal is presented on the verso; a simplified image of that animal printed on a shaped gatefold on the facing page opens to show a smiling child exclaiming, “So do I!” Uncluttered illustrations of an elephant’s “floppy ears,” a bush baby’s “big eyes,” a fox’s “pointy nose,” a crocodile’s “sharp teeth,” and a lizard’s “little fingers and toes” are matched behind the gatefold page by children with the same characteristics. The children are all drawn in the same style, with round heads and prominent eyes, but with various shades of brown skin. Three other books published simultaneously follow the same pattern and design. Feeling Great! attributes human emotions to animals. Who knows whether a chipmunk is “excited” or a camel is “grumpy”? But young children will understand the concept and happily chime in “So do I.” Feeding Time! and On the Go! successfully deal with more-concrete concepts. Toddlers will quickly adopt their refrains of “Me too!” and “Just like me!” Refolding the large, rather heavy gatefold flaps so a toddler can turn the page can be awkward but is a minor concern.

Overall, these durable board books are well-suited to the interests and attention spans of toddlers, who naturally see themselves at the center of the universe.