MAKING FACES

This expressive primer puts names to faces and encourages children to make a few of their own.

This sturdy board book uses photographs, a cutout cover, simple questions, and a mirror to teach children to identify and express five different feelings familiar to children of all ages. The book’s design engages its target audience with attractive photos of cute baby boys and girls of several different races, including white, Asian, and black, and there’s an adorable girl (judging by the little flower-shaped earrings) who looks Indian or of Middle Eastern descent. The cutaway hole in the cover peeks through at that girl happily sticking out her tongue, flanked by a serious youngster and a laughing little baby. The text introduces the terms “happy,” “sad,” “angry,” “surprised,” and “silly,” each term illustrated with a baby face to match, followed by a chance to select that face from a pool of six babies. The design of the book encourages a dialogue between caregiver and child as young readers indicate their guesses and learn to distinguish among different facial expressions. After a quick review of the new vocabulary words, the last page of the book offers a mirror, so young readers can make some faces of their own.

Good moody fun.