ANIMAL FRIENDS

The world of animals is explored in this touch-and-feel board book.

Lions have “fluffy tummies,” and parrots have “soft feathers” in this interactive read. Each double-page spread is filled with bright colors and strong shapes illustrating different animals and their habitats. Simple text details the scene, such as "This rhino has smooth skin" or "This fish has a scaly tail." Little readers are encouraged to reach out and feel the pages, as each animal has a different texture (though that fishtail is more soft and sparkly than scaly). The illustrator smartly puts other animals in each scene, so repeat reads will have readers pointing out crocodiles, monkeys, and snakes even though they aren't explicitly mentioned. With only five double-page spreads, the read is fairly short. This won't be a storytime centerpiece, but it works well as a lead-in. A similar title, Animal Shapes, is also available.

A bright and pleasant tactile title.