PARK

A lift-the-flap board book exploring different types of tracks made by people and animals.

Following a simple, repeated format that asks readers to guess “Who is making tracks?” this book for toddlers offers them tactile tracks as clues. Lifting the page-sized flap on recto reveals the track-maker underneath. Each flap has a sweet little peekaboo cutout—acorns, a water bottle—that’s filled with color from the image below, a nice touch. The illustrations themselves are simple and brightly colored, appearing against a solid, contrasting background. While this doesn’t always make for a realistic representation, like the green paw and footprints against a pink ground, it is nevertheless eye-catching. There are several different types of tracks, and the tire and skateboard ones are especially fun to touch. The people represented are diverse: There’s Duli, who is brown-skinned and blind, walking with his service dog, and Su-Yin, an Asian girl on a skateboard. As a thoughtful inclusion on Duli’s page, the “Nature Trail” sign also displays (nonraised) Braille dots. Following a similar format in setup and interactive elements, Farm includes Milo, a white boy riding a pony with an adaptive saddle, and Snow includes Jian, an Asian girl with an adaptive sled. While Beach does not similarly present characters with disabilities, it too includes characters of color. Throughout the series the manipulatives are accessible and unfussy, the illustrations are clear, and the text is age appropriate.

Hits the mark for its inclusiveness and quality of format.