ZOOM, by Simms Taback (2010, Blue Apple Books)
This very simple, undersized board book features all kinds of modes of transportation, from a scooter to a moving truck and everything in between. BoyChild’s favorites are the school bus (“Buh!”), the fire truck (“Cah-cah!”), and the taxi (“Tah!”). Each page or spread features a colorful illustration of the vehicle (sometimes with a person or people, sometimes by itself) with the word for it in plain, black print. Because of its small size (a little over four inches square), it is the perfect size for infants and toddlers to handle and “read” on their own. The people are all smiling and happy and many-hued, so any small child obsessed with wheeled transport will love it.
Simms Taback was a prolific author/illustrator who was honored by the Caldecott committee for his picture books Joseph Had a Little Overcoat and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. His concept books (animals, transportation, colors, numbers, etc.) are definitely worth checking out if you have a young child in your home!
BoyChild’s Reaction: BoyChild saw me starting this review and started shouting, “Cah! Cah!” (“Car! Car!”, in case you don’t speak Semi-Verbal-Toddler.) He LOVES this book! He actually picked it out himself at the library (during our big-kid storytime wanderings, since he can only stay put for “A Very Simple Dance” and “I’m a Little Teapot” before he takes off to run the aisles (*sigh*)), and he has been bringing it to me frequently (along with Doggies, by Sandra Boynton, and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?, by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle) to read and read and read again. I will definitely be digging through the board book bins to find more, and I think this one is going on his birthday list for next month!
Additional titles:
I was going to ask you about the dancing song! Thanks for the link!
Absolutely!