In another of Karen Katz’s bright, lift-the-flap board books, a toddler explores the sights and sounds of summer.
A little red-haired girl wearing a hot pink bathing suit spies the sun behind a curtain, her swimming tube under the towel and, finally, Mommy behind a tree with a garden hose ready for some water play. The Q-and-A format is presented with the question outside the flap and the answer printed on the verso inside. “What could be in the beach bag? / These are my flip-flops, sunglasses, and green hat!” The polka-dot ice cream is a little peculiar, and a couple of the flaps don’t fully line up with the illustrations. Despite these minor flaws, this book has everything Katz fans know and love: an exuberant, cartoon toddler, art featuring familiar objects and scenes in bold patterns and happy colors, and large, sturdy flaps with mostly rounded corners.
With Katz board books about spring, summer and fall already in the bag, let’s hope winter is on the way to round out baby's year. (Board book. 6 mos.-2)
