I WANT THAT!

Babies (and readers) decide how to spend the day.

“These babies have a busy day ahead. Can you figure out what each one wants?” The story continues as readers help the little ones select what to eat, what to wear, what to play with, and more. Each page that poses a question has a wheel that rotates, displaying different options in a selection window. For example, when choosing food, readers can opt for a banana, yogurt, a cookie, cake, or avocado. Because there is a matching selection window on the next page, if the reader chooses a banana, after turning the page, there it sits, partially peeled on the baby’s highchair tray. This gimmick invites participation and encourages an understanding of cause and effect. The term baby is used sans pronouns; the children depicted aren’t gendered, and neither is the clothing they wear or the toys they play with. Depicting round-headed, rosy-cheeked babies who are diverse in skin tone and hairstyle, the illustrations themselves are secondary to the thrill of spinning the wheel. Though the book is about babies, it’s really toddlers who have the fine motor skills to manipulate the wheel and enjoy the changing options.

A fun, choose-your-own-adventure book, toddler style.