GOD MADE THE ANIMALS

Little ones learn about God’s creations.

God made all the creatures in the animal kingdom, and this board book aims to teach toddlers about them. The text is formatted with abcb rhyme scheme (“God made the panda / who eats bamboo shoots // God made the owl / who whoos and hoots”), with one animal presented per double-page spread. Just the tops of the animals’ heads are presented, with their eyes cut out so little ones can hold up the book and turn the illustration into a mask. The book ends with the assurance that God made us too, and a white baby is on hand with its eyes cut out as well, for an effect that is both limiting and rather creepy. The text is simple enough and leaves room for interpretation. Creationists and believers in evolution may find common-enough ground: the book says that God made the animals but not how or how long it took. Less successful is the mask component, which is clumsy at best and might scare sensitive little ones at worst.

A well-intentioned read held back by some design flaws.