REACH FOR THE STARS

Tots cavort in fantastical and naturalistic settings on the pages of this interactive novelty book.

A White youngster with blond hair reaches for the stars. A brown-skinned tyke playfully straddles a crescent moon. A Black toddler with Afro puffs and dressed in a onesie dances in a sunny field of sunflowers. This adorable fantasia ends with a little one with medium brown skin being tucked in at bedtime (a felt flap serves as blanket) by a caregiver with the same skin tone. On each of the book’s six pages, simple rhyming couplets are metered out, describing a parental figure’s love for a child. Tactile elements, such as a rubber teething corner; soft cloth pages with ribbon tabs sewn onto the edges; crinkly material embedded in the cover; and a green, felt, zigzag-shaped appliqué along the spine give little fingers (and teeth) a lot to explore. A Velcro strap fastened to the top allows the book to be attached to a diaper bag or stroller. While the text is scant and the story slight, the tactile elements will be of interest to the target audience, while adults’ hearts will be warmed by Búzio’s sweet and colorful cartoony illustrations.

A fun read for babies, although more toy than book.