MON PETIT BUSY DAY

Originally published in France as Ma petite rentrée, this interactive board book illustrates such concepts as identifying colors, numbers, and directions.

Featuring Tamarkin’s bold, clean illustrations, each page or double-page spread focuses its movable pieces on toddler- and preschooler-friendly ideas like identifying matching pairs and opposites. What makes the book more appealing than most lift-the-flap–style board books is its creative use of the format, also incorporating movable pieces that slide left to right and up and down, a hand with fingers that fold down for counting, and an analog clock with movable hands. The accompanying text acts as a clear and simple prompt for readers: “Which one goes the fastest?” Many of the pages allow adults to explore beyond the questions with their children, identifying additional images or playing with the hands of a clock. While overall the illustrations are successful, some are a bit head-scratching, such as a two-page layout that invites readers to find and count ladybugs, two of which are on a fish. Most of the book is developmentally appropriate, although the clock (“Do you know what time it is?”) seems out of sync. The flaps and movable pieces are on the flimsy side, so the book’s shelf life is likely to be a short one.

Bold, appealing illustrations with nontraditional interactive components make this book enjoyable and educational despite some minor imperfections.