MY FIRST BOOK OF PATTERNS

Graphic design for the toddler set.

While naming patterns might not be high on the list of topical interests for most toddlers, this handsomely designed board book has the potential to provide little ones with expressive vocabulary that will enhance their visual literacy. The book itself follows a pattern with a series of three spreads each that introduce both common and lesser-seen patterns one might encounter in fabric design, illustration, and so on. “This is a line” reads the first verso, with an accompanying image of a white, vertical line on a bright pink background. The facing recto reads “A lot of lines make…” prompting a page turn to a spread covered with pink and white stripes and the word “STRIPES!” in bold, black type. The next spread is a wordless underwater scene depicting sea creatures and flora decorated with striped patterns. The rest of the book follows suit, explaining how “A lot of zigzags make… / CHEVRON!” and “A lot of diamonds make… / HARLEQUIN!” and so on. The paisley spread seems a bit off given that it takes more than “A lot of teardrops” to make this pattern, but otherwise the examples work well. A closing double-gatefold spread revisits each shape and the various patterns they create as a means of recapping the book as a whole.

A well-ordered visual education