SHOW ME HOW YOU FEEL

A diverse crew of babies and toddlers demonstrates a variety of feelings and physical states in clear, stock photos.

A smiling toddler with dark brown hair and eyes and light brown skin is paired with the following text on a full-page photo: “This boy is happy. I feel happy too.” This pattern repeats with both boy and girl tots of a variety of ethnic backgrounds and one disability (one girl appears to have Down syndrome) displaying sadness, anger, hunger, thirst. Despite the title, more than feelings are modeled; the youngsters are also shown playing, being quiet, and hugging. The companion book in the Point to Books series, which encourages parents to help their little ones to point to the pictures to develop communication skills, is titled Show Me Your Day. Again, a diverse cast takes readers through a baby's or toddler’s day from sunup to sundown. While some may question the sequencing (tooth-brushing is mentioned before a meal) and the lack of a nap, the text is perfect in its simplicity and directness: “It is time to eat.” In both books, the photos are from a variety of sources and vary in quality. Some look to be studio shots and others appear to be natural and candid.

Despite quibbles, this and its companion are refreshingly developmentally appropriate and strive hard to truly reflect our diverse world.