Baby Eye Like ~ Giveaway

It's been a long time since I've pulled out baby books to review. When Bookworm1 was a baby, we used Roger Priddy's Happy Baby series to acquiant him with the lovely world of books. Now we're preparing to bring another young one into our family and I have to back up a bit with my reading ages and, of course, explore new titles and see what else is out there!

The Baby Eye Like series is designed to teach young children concepts about the world around them through use of pictures of the natural world. Very much like Roger Priddy books, the Baby Eye Like uses good, clear photographs as opposed to illustrations to "tell the story." I really appreicate the use of photographs in books (not just because I am a photographer) but because my son seemed to have a difficult time identifying animals correctly if they were too cartoon-y to the point where they would drift away from reality. (Apparently my child is very black and white in nature -- also like his mother!) Therefore, although he is 2 1/2, he is attracted to these books and enjoyed looking through them.

This series is quite large, with lots of titles and subject matters addressed. The two books that brought out the strongest reactions from my 2 1/2 year old were the books on spots and stripes in the natural world. (Of course, these were the two more complex picture books which might have had something to do with it!) There are a lot more items to look at on these pages and the patterns and designs are busier.

In each book there is a circle cut out, revealing the title of the book. Therefore as you turn each page there is a circle of space missing from it. Frequently the circles are placed strategically on the object or animal being photographed to further explain the concept. For example, in the Circle, Square and Triangle books, the appropriate shape is cut-out on each page, highlighting the shape that the child is to be looking for and identifying.

These books are stury, well-made and dependable. What helps make them dependable? Frequent use of cuddly (and otherwise) looking animals. My son LOVES animals and I've yet to hear of a kid who doesn't. There is something about animals that attracts us to them. They look cozy. They look friendly (as long as their mouths are shut and their tongues are not slithering out). One particular book in this series did a good job of illiciting sighs and smiles from us. Baby Eye Like: Baby Animals is filled to the brim with soft looking kitty cats, cozy bunnies, curled up and adorable looking hedgehogs, and fluffy baby lambs. As we flipped through the pages, Bookworm1 declared them all to be, "CUTE!" Every single page. Every single animal. Cute, cute, cute!

As I said, there are a lot of titles in this series to choose from, including: a counting book (How Many?), an alphabet book (Discover Letters) and books devoted to teaching children particular colors (Purple, Yellow, Orange, Blue).

These books are fun, curious, bright and cheerful.

Of course, the best thing about them may just be that it provides an opportunity for you to snuggle with and read to your little one. Pointing out pictures, making explanations, introducing children to the concept of books in general and kissing the tops of little heads is one of the most relaxing parts of parenting babies. For all the hussle and bustle, diaper changes and spit-ups, finding books that allow you some "downtime" to just BE with your kids and enjoy stories and pictures is awesome. To that end, there is also Baby Eye Like: I Love You! which shows pictures of "affection in the natural world." As evidenced by the picture on the front cover, there are swans making the shape of a heart. Inside you'll find giraffes hugging, seals rubbing noses, and cows licking each others ears. (This all sounds very weird as I'm typing it but the pictures are, as they say, affectionate.)

If you would like to win a copy of this particular title, leave a comment in the comment section below! That's all you need to do. I will select and announce a winner on Wednesday, July 1st. (U.S. Residents only, please!)

The winner of this contest was Jennifer @ Snapshot. Congrats! I'll be mailing the book off shortly.

******
If you like the sound of these books but would appreciate a similar series for older kids, check out what Dawn and Jennifer had to say about the Eye Like series for pre-schoolers and school aged children over at 5 Minutes for Books.