Colours by Aino-Maija Metsola
Lift the flaps books are very popular in my house, though I seldom use that term to describe them. Rip the flaps is more apt. I imagine fellow parents reading this review will wince and nod at this point whilst librarians will perspire and reach reflexively for the sellotape. 'Colours' by Aino-Maija Metsola is a lift the flaps book for the very young. As the title suggests, this edition aims to teach the concept of colour with the added spice of extra pictures hidden behind flaps.
| Colours by Aino-Maija Metsola | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Lorraine McDonald
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| Summary: Learn colours, name objects and spot the odd one out in this stylish toddler book. Toddler bliss comes in the form of a huge number of flaps to peer beneath. The learning objective is a basic one but the execution is novel, interactive and easy on the eye. A strong and engaging offering in this genre. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 14 | Date: March 2015 |
| Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions | |
| ISBN: 978-1847806093 | |
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'Colours' introduces seven colours, each on a double page spread and each incorporating a generous allocation of flaps. I counted twenty seven. My son was thrilled and settled down for a good ten minutes on his own (and that’s a long time when you still count your age in months not years) to poke his sticky finger in to each. He was happy to see amongst the montage of appropriately coloured items, numerous favourites that he recognises and can (almost) say. Ball, nee-nar, nana, ooh-ooh, roar, reebit, hat and copter delighted him. With approximately seven items on each single page, there’s still room to expand his vocabulary. Once little ‘un has mastered the colours and can name the items, there is an extra stretch. This is to spot the odd one out as each double page spread includes one rogue coloured item.
Aino-Maija Metsola is a Scandinavian illustrator and designer and it shows. There are no cutesy images here. This is a stylish book. Though the pictures are 100% child friendly, the cosmopolitan parent would be proud to display this on their coffee table. I read and enjoyed this as much as my son. I did wonder though, why just seven colours? I wasn’t expecting the Dulux colour chart but black, white and brown would have been welcome additions or replacements for the pink and purple that are included alongside red, blue, yellow, orange and green.
'Colours' takes a children’s book staple and interprets it with verve and edge. The result is a beautiful book full of strong yet simple images that appeal to toddlers. I will try to resist controlling my little boy’s access to this. PVA glue is on standby. My money is on the dandelion (yellow, tall, thin and attached only by the short side of the long rectangular flap) getting it first. In the quest for learning, some will fall.
When junior has mastered colours, why not move on to Numbers by Paul Thurlby for more stylish learning?
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You can read more book reviews or buy Colours by Aino-Maija Metsola at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Colours by Aino-Maija Metsola at Amazon.com.
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