Welcome to metomi.com, your online source of great reads and activities for smart children! This edition is a loving tribute to board books for children: durable, compact, and colourful stories that are perfect anytime, anywhere - we especially love them for bedtime and on the road! We are highlighting some of our favourite children's board books for the younger child: join us as we frolic with some friends, whether they be two clever kittens and their pots of paint, or a little wombat and his friends; have a great bedtime read with a little girl and her favourite puppy, or visit with a famous (and very hungry) caterpillar! Some are front and centre in the children's section of your bookstore, while others are more easily found at the library (which is our favourite place for great children's books and fast service)! This selection is sure to delight your children! Here's to the mighty board book...Happy Reading!
Title: The Color Kittens
Author: Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrator: Alice and Martin Provensen
We have enjoyed several of Margaret Wise Brown's children's books, having lovingly read each of them many, many times: "Goodnight Moon", "The Big Red Barn" and "Bunny's Noisy Book". But we only recently discovered her book "The Color Kittens"...and what a wonderful find it was! Two kittens have a great time mixing together paint of different colours, in search of their favourite colour green. It takes them several tries to get to green, but in the process they discover other lovely colours, and realize that they are all equally wonderful. The colours are described in Margaret Wise Brown's clever and creative rhyming style, which we enjoy a lot. We had several encore reads the first day we brought it home from the library, and have enjoyed many subsequent bedtime readings since.
Title: Sometimes I Like to Curl up in a Ball
Author: Vicki Churchill
Illustrator: Charles Fuge
Our copy of this children's board book about an adventurous little wombat is showing its age and use, but (thankfully) is still sturdy enough for many more reads! With humour and rhyme we follow our friend wombat as he spends a day exploring with his friends, as well as learning a thing or two about himself along the way. The illustrations are lovely, depicting the innocence of childhood, the wonder of discovery, and the beauty of a picture perfect spring day. And a sweet ending that all children will appreciate: after a day of merriment with good playmates, little wombat is welcomed home with a warm embrace from his loving parent. One of our all-time favourite children's books!
Title: Goodnight, Poppy and Max
Author/Illustrator: Lindsey Gardiner
This children's board book appears to be out of print, so the easiest way to find it is probably at the children's section of your local library. And your younger children will definitely appreciate it! We also have "Here Come Poppy and Max" from the same author, and both books have been extremely well liked in our home. In "Goodnight, Poppy and Max" readers join a little girl named Poppy and her best friend, Max, a playful puppy, for their bedtime routine. The bright and colourful illustrations complement a fun bedtime counting exercise. We enjoy counting the items as well as having a bit of fun on each page, pointing out other wonderful details on each page. Lots of fun and a great choice for bedtime reading!
Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author/Illustrator: Eric Carle
An extremely popular board book, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" appeals to children with its simple storytelling, great imagery and of course, an irresistible main character! We love following along with the caterpillar as it searches for food, as well as the cascading pages with food items that have been "eaten" with cleverly punched holes. Your bright children will memorize the food items in no time at all, and will want to recite them with you! We have the regular-sized board book, the mini hardcover, and a stuffed toy we picked up at FAO Schwarz during a recent child-friendly trip to New York City...all have been well-loved!
Title: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Author/Illustrator: Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
Of the children's books we have read in the series, we like "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" the best. Our young child memorized the verses in this board book and was heard chanting them over and over (and over!) for days after we brought the book home from the library. He also made up an interesting new dance to complement - absolutely priceless! The illustrations are classic Eric Carle: vivid and playful. Each animal is asked what they see, and they respond by saying that they see another animal. The children's book continues in this manner until the end, where a delightful surprise awaited us! This board book appeals to both children and grown-ups, a trait which we believe is the hallmark of a great children's book. Enjoy!
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