Clap Hands

by Helen Oxenbury

Helen Oxenbury's delightful board books, featuring her sweet and cuddly babies at play, are back with a whole new look.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Bodies

10 pages, Board Book

First published September 30, 1987

About the author

Married to John Burningham

Born in 1938 and growing up in Ipswich, England, Helen Oxenbury loved nothing more than drawing. As a teenager, she entered art school and basked in the pleasure of drawing, and nothing but drawing, all day. During vacations she helped out at the Ipswich Repertory Theatre workshop, mixing paints for set designers. It was there that she decided her future lay in theater design.

While studying costume design, however, Helen Oxenbury was told by a teacher, "This is hopeless, you know. You ought to go and do illustrations--you're much more interested in the character, and we don't know who's going to play the part!"


But sets and scenery, not books, remained Helen Oxenbury's preoccupation for several more years as she embarked on careers in theater, film, and TV. After marrying John Burningham, another of the world's most eminent children's book illustrators, and giving birth to their first child, at last she turned to illustrating children's books. "When I had babies," Helen Oxenbury says, "I wanted to be home with them and look for something to do there."


Today, Helen Oxenbury is among the most popular and critically acclaimed illustrators of her time. Her numerous books for children include the Greenaway Medal-winning ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND and its companion, ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, both by Lewis Carroll; Smarties Book Prize-winning FARMER DUCK by Martin Waddell; SO MUCH by Trish Cooke; as well as her classic board books for babies. More recently, she collaborated with author Phyllis Root on the jubilant, no-nonsense tall tale BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD. "As I read Phyllis's text, I imagined Big Momma as part Buddha, part housewife," she says. "It was intimidating to create a whole world, but very enjoyable."


And what does she love most about her work? Thinking up new ideas? Seeing the finished book? Not at all. For Helen, "The best part is when I think I know what I'm doing and I've completed a few drawings. In fact, when I get about a third of the way through, and I feel I'm on my way, then I'm happy. It's like reading a good book--you don't want it to end."


Helen Oxenbury and her husband make their home in London, where the illustrator works in a nearby studio. She is also an avid tennis player.

Reviews

[Melenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cute

[TheTwins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit, when I first got this gift as a shower gift I thought I didn't like the art and thought it was just kind of a weird children's book. Well, apparently I do not have the same taste as Abi and Lili because they love it.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this book. The babies are so chunky and expressive. This is another great one for story time because it is short and it rhymes. That said, I think it is a better at-home read because there are actions that can be followed at home easier than in a group. Also since the end is "Wave to Daddy, wave to Mom" it's perfect for reading with parents. This was another Mother's Day story time book.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

simple, solid, timeless

[Jaden]

Picture Book

This adorable picture book is great for small children. This book can teach them about different body parts, how to wave, how to clap, and how to play the drums.

[Savannah Domeyer]

This book has some actions in the book. This can help students when they are trying to identify what kind of actions are happening.

[Sidney McQuade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This simple book is great for very young children. It teaches the children how to use their hands and different ways they can use them.

[Andrej · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short board book with four racially diverse babies clapping hands, dancing, feasting, and generally having fun together.

[Jill Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for a friend who celebrated the birth of a grandson. This book is a board book and features babies of different nationalities.

[Tallmadge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book for tummy time. Will look at/study pictures. The babies look like babies just enough for actual babies to be interested.

[Melissa Swistek · Rating 4 out of 5]

The babies look creepy but my son adores this book. He clapped his hands right along with the text.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations. There’s not much to the book but Rosie didn’t mind it.

[Andrés · Rating 4 out of 5]

The scale of this book makes it a winner. Large but thin with oversize babies and just a few words. Very cute for the littlest ones.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read an edition that was an especially nice size, bigger page format, but still a board book. These babies are so cute! The food pages were especially apropos at the moment with my twins.

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This will not be in detail because I lost my notes and I've already returned it to the library. For what it is -- this book is OK and has been around a long time so you might even call it a classic.

Oversized boardbook with a variety of babies doing simple baby things with simple large font text.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helen Oxenbury's board books were highly recommended in another book I was reading (both possible titles were too long to write here). I wasn't that impressed. I had read Ten Fingers and Ten Toes (I think that's the title), back before Natalie was born, and didn't like the illustrations. I still am not found of the look of the babies. The illustrations are nice big close ups of babies playing, but they just weren't for me. I'd prefer photographs than this style. The text were simple and rhymed, but didn't make me laugh or connected or anything. Maybe it is because these books are intended for infants, and I waited too long to try to share them with Natalie.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's difficult to find great Laptime in the Library books because most books geared to babies are board books. The good thing for a caregiver or storyteller is that this particular book is a larger board book. It is, however, really short, which might be fine when a child is on your lap and you're reading it 15 times but isn't great in a storytelling setting.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a lot of the other reviews seem to be forgetting is that these books are for babies/toddlers (up to probably about two years). Oxenbury really does a great job of speaking directly to that audience in a compelling way.

Unfortunately, way too many other 'board' books are just children's books on stiff paper...

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, simple board book. Great for use with movement activities.

Good illustrations with a variety of babies of different ethnic backgrounds represented. The last lines, however, are "wave to Daddy, wave to Mom," so not necessarily an ideal book for some modern families; the book was originally published in 1987.

[Paris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book can be read to Pre-K students. It illustrates different ways to use your hands. I would use this book to teach students how and how not express themselves. I like this book because it allows the teacher to teach politeness and mannerism in and outside of school.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same review as All Fall Down by the same author, see this book is geared toward very young children, but I still love it now that my babies aren't babies anymore. The simple rhyme and great pictures make it something I won't part with.

[Sophie Landrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

We own all of this series. These were the books that started a true LOVE of reading. She still comes back to their simple rhymes and baby faces- perfect for the tiniest readers.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

short and sweet

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely go for the big board book!

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short and sweet, perfect for my 1 year old. My kids loved doing all the actions while i was reading the book.

[Amron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything by her. This is part of a four-piece board book series that I LOVE!

[Christine Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen Oxenbury creates wonderful board books for infants.

[Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter now 14 mo loves these books! There are only 4 pages but they are such a hit. I have to read them many times.

[Huda Fel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't give it more than 3stars
The whole set is lovely and the illustrations are great but I never tried reading 8-pages-book to any toddler before
Would they like it??

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cute series of books, these are the perfect length for children with the shortest attention spans.