The ingenious paper engineering in What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen? allows the reader to lift the flap on each spread in two directions for startlingly different results.

The ingenious paper engineering in What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen? allows the reader to lift the flap on each spread in two directions for startlingly different results.
This quirky and interactive book uses translucent vellum paper to create a foggy and mysterious atmosphere that “shrouds” the illustrations in shadows until you turn the page and they reveal themselves on the reverse side to be various fairytale characters — in full colour — doing something that’s not quite expected.
A little boy tries out his new toy — a telescope — in the park and sees something disturbing through the eyepiece: a shark’s fin. “There’s a shark in the park!” he yells.
For some reason, writer/illustrator Nick Sharratt is still relatively unknown in the realm of children’s books, but in our household, his wacky style is a definite favourite.
What Do I Look Like? is a very slim book that is useful as a tool to help very young toddlers to learn to read facial cues, and understand their own feelings/emotions, as well as those of others.
The book uses the format: “When ____________ (a particular scenario described and illustrated), I look like this” followed by a half-page flap that the reader flips to reveal a closeup of the boy’s reaction, which can easily be elaborated on to help the child understand what the boy is feeling, and why.
Don’t Put Your Finger In The Jelly, Nelly is a freaky-cute and funny book with finger-sized round cutouts designed to discourage kids from dipping their fingers into food. I particularly loved the wacky food monsters (spag-yeti, anyone?) who have to be seen to be believed.
One of the four titles by Sharratt and Heap, Faster, Faster! Nice and Slow! is a fun book on opposites that features the two different yet complementary styles of illustrations by the two authors. The fun rhyming text, as always, is a pleasure to read aloud.
As the title suggests, Goat Goes to Playgroup takes us through what happens when Goat goes to playgroup. Alas he doesn’t always do all the ‘right’ things and gets himself into little accidents — although he always seems to have fun. The illustrations and rhyming text don’t take themselves too seriously, so, all in all, this will be a good book for toddlers who are in, or who are about to join, a playgroup or preschool.
A Boot, a Hat, Now Who is That? is a fun “flip-flap” book that invites the child to guess the person in the footwear and headgear pictured, with his/her identity revealed with a flip of the flap.
Whose Nose and Tail and Toes are Those? is a fun flip-flap book that requires the reader to guess the animal that’s hiding by looking at its nose, tail and “toes” (feet). The identity of the animal is then revealed with a flip of the flap.