Comments on: Board Books 2011: What Worked Well (a biased opinion)

By: Sam Bloom

Sam Bloom — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:58:44 +0000

Oh yeah, I’ve had moments at my own story times where kids have either started crying based on a completely random bit from a book or because of my facial expression, whatever. It’s strange. I don’t think it was you, though… the kid’s facial expression seemed to be the problem. Now I’m curious and thinking I need to give it another shot now that she is older!

By: Elizabeth Bird

Elizabeth Bird — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:43:09 +0000

Huh! The “Quiet” is often their favorite part. It may just be that I’m a frightening gal. Interesting, though! I once had a girl who every time I did “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” she would plug her ears and glare and me.

By: Sam Bloom

Sam Bloom — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:23:44 +0000

I’ll second, third and fourth the love for Orange Pear Apple Bear… a favorite in our house (and at my preschool story times). I hadn’t caught the connections between that one and the Cloudy… board book. Amazing that an imprint could make such a great decision and such a ridiculously bad one within such a short time period.

Oh, and the Noisy Counting Book – my daughter is terrified of that book. I remember when you did a webcam readaloud of that, and at the part where the kid yells, “Quiet!” she burst into tears. Weird, huh?

By: Kate Coombs

Kate Coombs — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:43:19 +0000

My favorite board books are Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Jamberry, and Goodnight, Gorilla. They are especially good for 2- and 3-year-olds!

By: Rebecca Glaser

Rebecca Glaser — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:04:43 +0000

I’m so glad to know that Orange Pear Apple Bear is a board book now. We have it in hard cover and I think it’s just delightful, my oldest daughter loved it when she was just learning to read. I think I will get the board book version for my nieces when they turn one.

I also love Karen Katz but books with flaps do not survive my second child.

By: Elizabeth Bird

Elizabeth Bird — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:05:07 +0000

Depends on the moving parts, Nora. Some books are enormously sturdy. Others die on a first read. Anyone ever seen that Mo Willems title Big Frog Can’t Fit In? That thing fell apart when an adult read it. Oog.

Thanks for the FYI on the old Pizza Man, Virginia. Scholastic, eh? Fingers are double crossed then.

By: Maria Simon

Maria Simon — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:36:30 +0000

I’m with you and Kathy J. We took our Hi Pizza Man! out of circ for our own use. Would love it in hard cover and even as a jumbo. It is so fun to share with a crowd. Thanks for this list. I know what you mean about Karen Katz. I look forward to sharing Counting Christmas at my storytime tomorrow morning.

By: Nora H

Nora H — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:20:07 +0000

Do the titles with movable parts seem like they’d survive multiple library circulations?

By: Kathy J

Kathy J — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:06:25 +0000

And while they’re printing the board book, bring back HI, PIZZA MAN! in hardcover as well. I’ve taken our last worn copy out of circulation so that I can use it in storytime forever — but it would be nice to be able to let kids take a copy home!

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:53:51 +0000

I was surprised how much my two older kids, ages 4 and 7, enjoyed Orange Bear Apple Pear. They were able to totally appreciate the humor in a pear-shaped bear, etc. Also, I’m glad to hear that they’ve made a board book of Where is My Baby? The flaps fell right off the first version of that book. I love Harriet Ziefert’s illustrations.