Welcome to metomi.com, your online source of great reads and activities for young readers! Here we showcase some great "action" books for preschoolers, the kind with pop-ups, flaps and pull tabs! We love that perfect blend of artistry, story and durability and think these favourites have what it takes. As usual we've also got some fun printable activities, and don't forget to check our library for even more wonderful books for preschoolers. Happy Reading, and don't forget to take a few books along, wherever you're headed!
Title: The Wheels On The Bus
Author/Illustrator: Paul Zelinsky
I had wanted to get this story for my daughter and lucky me, I found this one. There are many books that tell the "Wheels on the Bus" story, but this one has got to be the best. The rolling wheels, swishing wipers and crying babies are just a few of the wonderful actions in this book. It may be a bit less durable than other books in this genre, but we found it lasted a long, long time before a few tabs detached from the book - even after a ton of readings the wheels still keep on rolling! The illustrations are also wonderful, so much going on, so much to look at. And of course, if you're the singing kind, it's an even richer experience for the kids! We also have Paul Zelinsky's "Knick Knack Paddywhack" book, which is equally wonderful but a bit more fragile. Bravo!
Title: Who Took The Cookie From The Cookie Jar?
Author/Illustrator: David A. Carter
My daughter and I have read this book over and over and over. And now my son has caught the cookie jar fever and so the cycle begins again in our home! Each page has a cookie jar that can be "opened" to reveal a potential cookie jar cookie snatcher. Of course, each little creature denies having taken any cookies...until the final page when they all decide to confess! The wonderful cookie jar flaps and animal pop-ups captivate, as does the repetitive nature of the question and corresponding answers. Although the animal pop-ups appear fragile, they are assembled in such a way (behind the cookie jars) that they actually last a long time - our book is still in great condition.
Title: Where's Spot?
Author/Illustrator: Eric Hill
Our copy of "Where's Spot?" was a baby shower gift from my former boss. It was my daughter's first introduction to the popular dog, and it wasn't long before we became a little Spot fan club, with several more Spot books gracing our shelves. Even after many, many reads, my daughter was still interested in the book - as a toddler, she liked the flaps. Later she liked the story. Then she liked the other stories. Shortly after 4 she'd moved on, but once again, my son (who loves dogs, or "wo-wos" as he's calls them) has become a Spot fan too...gotta love reuse! Note that the board book is more durable than the paperback version.
Title: Maisy's Big Flap Book
Author/Illustrator: Lucy Cousins
Maisy is another celebrity in our home. There's just something about the bright vivid colours and simple stories about the little mouse and her friends - a lot of books use a similar formula, but Lucy Cousins gets it right. We picked up a bunch of picture books and a few flap books (including the one shown here) and all were popular with the kids. This particular flap book is very large (about 11.5" square or 29 cm) and takes the child through familiar indoor and outdoor scenes including the garden, playroom and outdoor playground. We also enjoyed Maisy's Seasons, a sister flap book - both are very durable. Good read up to about 3 years.
Title: The Wide-Mouthed Frog
Author: Keith Faulkner; Illustrator: Jonathan Lambert
For braver children, this is a great book! It tells the story of a proud frog with a very wide mouth, who goes around boasting to a few different creatures until he meets his match! Wonderful illustrations complement smart pop-ups that make the creatures look three-dimensional. My daughter was a little bit intimidated by the alligator but thought the subsequent pages - one with the humbled frog and his tiny and newly pursed lips, the other of the frog diving back into the water - were hilarious.
We liked this how-to book, very easy to follow. An older preschooler will enjoy trying the basic pop-ups, a grownup should help out (and play along!). We borrowed an older edition of this book, this looks to be another printing. Inside we were pleased to find easy to follow instructions on making a frog that looks a lot like Mr. Wide-Mouthed Frog!
