A beautifully-crafted board book, I'm loving the size and shape - perfect for little hands. I'm also loving the relatively high text (but not frustratingly so), allowing adults to elaborate with words, if need be - or allowing children to spend time wordlessly ogling the pictures.
Cheryl Orisini's illustrations are typically gorgeous - a real feast for the eyes. Charming and whimsical, I love her use of colour and detail. I personally have only a moderate interest in machines (having already passed through my toddler years) but even I want to know more just by ogling these beautiful pictures.
Authors Martin and Simpson have done a really superb job of blending rhyming text with prose - and use a lovely voice to chat with kids about the variety of machines that make our lives easier... and more fun. From dump trucks and diggers to microwaves and toasters - kids will love perusing different parts of the house and community in search of mechanised creations.
I also love how the authors have written in a way that encourages little ones to explore the sounds and uses and construction of machines - all whilst keeping the text and images age-appropriate.
A must-have for your toddler's library - and not just for boys.
Title: The ABC Book of Machines
Author: Helen Martin and Judith Simpson
Illustrator: Cheryl Orsini
Publisher: ABC Books, A$14.99 RRP
Publication Date: 1 July 2011
ISBN: 9780733329586
Format: Hardcover
For ages: 0 - 3
Type: Board Book
