The illustrations. Let's start with them. They are kooky good. I mean - really really really good. They have that striking retro 50s-American vibe, but they are also fresh, modern and ultra cool. They're the type of illos that just pull up the corners of your mouth, you know what I mean?
And there are LOTS of them. Every second double page spread of this stunning hard cover book has been totally doused in colourful wonder - with bears and ducks and flying machines and bats and hot air balloons and alien ships and tigers and owls and magnets and soccer balls and fire hydrants in the oddest of places. It's just kooksville crazy fun and birthday-party-feel-good.
The story itself is consummately-crafted, with very simple text and a series of little cut-outs that cleverly reveal a snippet of what's happening on the following pages. Kids are encouraged to seek and find myriad objets - a hook, a book, a cowboy cook! - a clock! a sock! a toothy croc! - and each one can be peeked at through said cut-outs, before revealing an entire double page spread of delight.
Narrative pages feature beautiful block colour and gorgeous typesetting - and rhyming text is infallibly and hilariously penned - so much so, it's an absolute pleasure to repeat read, over and over again.
Am I gushing? There's every reason I should be. And so will you.
Love.
Title: Look! A Book!
Author/Illustrator: Bob Staake
Publisher: Little, Brown, $23.95 RRP
Publication Date: 3 March 2011
Format: Hard cover with dust jacket
ISBN: 9780316118620
For ages: 2+
Type: Picture Book
