VERY FIRST BOOK OF THINGS TO SPOT

Small illustrations on unusually large (9 inches by 10 inches) board pages provide lots of talking points for one-on-one reading time.

Each double-page spread focuses on a different activity (riding a bike, playing games, eating ice cream, flying kites) or locale (a fair, up in the air, a garden, town, on the go, farm, market, the woods, beach, playground, lake). The final spread juxtaposes a snowy day and a starry night. Questions about colors, patterns, shapes, numbers, and more make each page a guessing game. Suggested questions are in small, light print and are not placed close to the picture that answers the question, presenting a challenge for adult readers. Not every possible question is included, but smart grown-ups will get the hint and find more in the illustrations to point out to curious toddlers. Smart kids will find much to study and discuss, even after adults are ready to turn the page. Each locale is populated by a mix of children and animals. The humans are a variety of hues; the animals wear clothes and drive vehicles. Almost all are smiling. Four pages incorporate die-cuts, a design decision that feels superfluous, and as the pages are not very thick, these handholds may lead to torn pages.

A good choice for car trips and waiting rooms.