Press Here written and illustrated by Herve Tullet. Chronicle Books, 2011. ISBN 978-0-8118-7954-5
Reader's Annotation: With simple painted dots in primary hues, and true interactivity, Herve Tullet has created a book that rivals the attractiveness of touchscreen technology.
Summary: It all begins with a single yellow dot. With the press of a finger, the dot becomes two, and then three. With more taps, blue and red dots appear, and then multiply. Soon, the dots are traveling to the right or left, and then the lights go out! With some strategic pressing and clapping, the lights come back on and the dots begin to grow.
When readers follow the directions in the text, magical changes occur to the painted dots on the next page. Children will be enthralled to see the results of their actions, and upon reaching the question of "Want to do it all over again?", the answer will be a resounding "Yes!".
Critical Evaluation: The interactive capabilities of Press Here encourage children to use their imaginations and completely engage with the work. It is a simple concept, that of images responding to actions on the part of the reader, but one that results in a captivating experience.
The colors and movements of the colored dots set a mood of cheerful exuberance, while the friendly, conversational tone of the text encourages a feeling of direct communication between the reader and the narrator. The illustrations, text, and participatory nature of the work unite to provide a marvelously interactive journey of creativity.
The tremendous success of this book has resulted in the release of a Press Here board game and app, as well as the follow up title, Mix it Up.
Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 7
Lexile Level: 320L
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book 2012, All Ages
Why Included? Tullet's inventiveness won me over after seeing this book in action. Children LOVE it!
Look! A Book! written and illustrated by Bob Staake. Little, Brown and Company, 2011. ISBN 978-0-316-11862-0
Reader's Annotation: "Look! A book! A hook! A cowboy cook!". With these three clues, a quirky seek-and-find journey begins. Before it ends, seekers will have located items such as a barber pole, a gooey splat, a troll, and a monkey bite. What will you find?
Summary: Staake's creativity overflows in these wacky scenes full of activity and detail. Die-cut holes provide a peek into the next two-page spread, and are accompanied by rhyming text listing which items are to be found.
Each illustrated scene is organized around a theme such as Museum Creatures Escape, or Treetop Town, and there is a great deal of silliness on every page. Upon reaching the book's last scene, Staake reveals another surprise: a gate-fold list of many more items hidden in the book. The fun is nearly endless, but when readers have found everything on the list, there is more: Staake's follow-up work, Look! Another Book!
"ROBOTS built here one by one!
Bang 'em! Clang 'em! Till they're done.
Can you find the mini one?"
Critical Evaluation: The interactive nature of Look! A Book! encourages children to completely engage with the work. The multitude of silly activities and marvelously zany creatures that Staake manages to pack into each two-page spread will leave children giggling and flipping to the next page to see what happens next. An added bonus to sharing this book with a child will be the conversations that result from observations and discoveries made while searching - it creates the perfect opportunity to share a love of reading.
Staake's use of bright, saturated hues adds to the energy depicted in each jam-packed scene, while his clever, rhyming text supplements the light-hearted nature of the illustrations. This book can be enjoyed on many different levels, and is suitable for pre-readers right on up to adults. The youngest seekers can search for the items highlighted in the bubble-shaped die-cuts, while more advanced readers will want to find everything included on the gate-fold list. Whatever the intensity of the search, Look! A Book! offers readers an imaginative and enjoyable pursuit.
Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 93
Awards: ---
Why Included? Where else can you see such wackiness? Also, learning that Staake creates his digital images on vintage computer equipment adds another layer of charm to the work.
How do you Feed a Hungry Giant? A Munch-and-Sip Pop-Up Book written by Caitlin Friedman, illustrated by Shaw Nielsen. Workman Publishing, 2011. ISBN 978-0-7611-5752-6
Reader's Annotation: When a hungry giant shows up in Oscar's backyard, he decides to feed him, but just how much food will it take to satisfy a giant-sized appetite?
Summary: Oscar opens his door to let his dog, Cowgirl, out into the backyard and discovers a giant standing there. This is no scary giant, but a hungry one who carried a sign saying "Food Please". Oscar wants to help, and returns inside to find some lunch for the big guy. Grapes, pizza, chocolate milk, peanut butter, blueberry muffins, and chicken quesadillas are all gulped down, but the giant is still hungry.
After emptying the refrigerator and cabinets of every bit of food, Oscar doesn't know what to do next when he finds that the giant is still hungry. Luckily, Oscar's mom realizes what has been going on, and comes up with a plan to save the day with dinner.
This book features pop-up art, sliding tabs, die-cut windows and doors, and flaps to open, which add interest and an element of interactivity. Additionally, a mini cookbook is attached to the inside of the front cover that includes eight recipes for giant-sized food, including the biggest burger in the world and a pizza-size chocolate chip cookie.
Critical Evaluation: Friedman's narrative is charming and presents a message of the importance of kindness to others without being preachy. The imaginative story line encourages children to not only consider just how much food would be necessary to fill up a giant, but also the possibilities of what could happen each time they go outside - you never know what you might find in your backyard, as Oscar discovered.
Nielsen's illustrations are charming and playful, and are perfectly suited to such a fantastical story. The use of pattern in the giant's clothing, the trees, and the food packaging add a level of detail that invites closer examination. The interactive nature of the pop-ups, slides, and flaps allows young readers to engage with the story, and participate in the character's actions.
My only concern regarding the use of this book in a school or library setting would be its durability. With the pop-up and sliding mechanisms being somewhat delicate, and the non-reinforced binding, this work could suffer damage rather quickly from multiple readings.
Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 6
Awards: ---
Why Included? Good food, the value of sharing, and playfulness: this combination is hard to beat. The idea of using this work as a jumping off point for a food drive, as I discovered on the publisher's website, is wonderful, and a great way to involve children in a worthwhile cause.