His Day

His Day by Heather Potter (Walker Books Australia)

BB RRP $9.95

ISBN – 978-1-921720-35-2

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

One in a pair of gender specific baby board books, this title uses simple text alongside delightful softly coloured sketches of a very young boy going about what comprises every baby’s day. All  pictures will be easily identified with by any child and the book begins by showing how each day starts with waking before having a nappy change.

Breakfast is followed by getting dressed and playtime takes baby till lunch time. Baby’s nap is followed by a walk before visiting with an older child. The day draws to a close with dinner, bathing, a story and a cuddle before bed.

Not only do the whimsical and very appealing pastels show much emotion and wonder as baby makes his way through his day, they also provide plenty of well thought out detail that ensures the illustrations will be happily marvelled over again and again.

While the publisher states that one of the books is for boys and one is for girls, parents and preschools may consider reading them as a pair, one after the other, to help reinforce that while genders may be a point of difference, boys and girls are very much the same on the whole.

Numbers; Colours

Numbers and Colours, designed and illustrated by Orla Kiely (hardie grant EGMONT)

HB RRP $16.95

ISBN 978-140525856-2 (Colours) 
978-140525855-5 (Numbers)

Reviewed by Lillian Rodrigues-Pang

Colours and Numbers are the first two books in a series by designer Orla Kiely. She is one of the U.K.’s most eminent designers, with a very distinctive style. She uses strong and earthy colours, simple lines and graphics that are reminiscent of the 1950’s era.

Being design driven the choice of materials are distinctive and lovely to touch. Both of the books are cloth covered, each board is thick and easy to turn for little fingers and the boards are matte varnish. They are very appealing and the quality would indicate long lasting.

The two books sit together well as a set, offering the same spread of colour and graphics in use. Each incorporates a two-page spread of full colour making every turn of the page pleasing.

Colours offers a range of tones for any one colour along the right hand side of the spread. The layout of the graphics is lovely with each both large and small images complimenting each other and offering more for the child to discover on the page.

Numbers uses a range of familiar objects in a variety of strong colours that are presented playfully on each two-page spread.

These books are attractive for both baby and parent.