So Silly!: Baby's High-Contrast Board Book

Baby's First Moments

by Emily Barton

22 pages, Board Book

Published January 27, 2026

Reviews

[Tr. Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your run-of-the-mill high-contrast board book! As a parent, it's nice for me to see a baby book that is not just a boring collection of squiggles or random images without context. The black-and-white images are bold and dynamic, depicting racing cars, bouncing balls, and spinning pinwheels. The short, playful sentences and vivid language give parents and caregivers something to say and do while reading with their little ones: The spread with the happy baby doing peek-a-boo practically begs you to do that with your child. Plus there are tips at the back of the book for supporting your baby's development. This was obviously made by experts. It is a great pick for new parents and libraries alike.

Thanks to NetGalley and Free Spirit Publishing for providing an advance copy of this title for review.

[Kristina P (ARC Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

PUBLISH DATE: Jan 27, 2026

This is a very simple and cute board book for infants, focusing on high contrast photos and simple one words. Having raised 3 children of my own, this is a book I would have loved reading to them as they sat in my lap. Research shoes that infants primarily see high-contrast simple patterns the best! This forms an essential visual foundation for later development. The illustrations in this book align with that. It is coupled with a few of the main images labeled with one word for an easy way to naturally talk to your child about the objects they see in the book. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

BOOK TITLE: So Silly! (Baby's High Contrast Board Book)
SERIES: Baby's First Moments
AUTHOR: Emily Barton
PUBLISHER: Free Spirit Publishing
FORMAT: e-book
PAGES: 22

[Theediscerning · Rating 5 out of 5]

A further entry in this series of six books for me to see, and for the very youngest eyes to see – the black and white levels of this are ramped up as the contrast helps baby's development, apparently. Here we're just playing, watching bubbles and jack-in-the-boxes, peek-a-booing from behind our hands and following runaway balls and crayon lines. It's going to be perfect for engagement as tiny hands get used to the idea of holding on to pages. Just the cleverness of the disguised face made of fruit shows there is much thought behind this, to the extent it probably deserves the full five, high-contrast, stars.

[Madison Rusnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent baby book! I wish I had this when my kids were babies. I love that each section alternates between mostly black and mostly white (background). I also love that although the images are basic, as is necessary for a high contrast baby book, they're not too boring. I also really enjoy the simple rhyming story. All my high contrast books were just images so I appreciate the story to go along with it. It makes this book good for many ages!

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun place to start the first reading experience of a toddler!
Four Point Five Stars.
There are black-an-white pictures of peek-a-boo, jack-in-the-box, balls bouncing and much more making it fun for the toddlers with their first book experience.
Beautiful book as a perfect story time for toddlers.
Thank you for the e-Arc Netgalley.
https://ok-readingcorner.blogspot.com...

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book!

I have previously bought a similar book for my young nephew in the past and he really enjoyed that but this one is longer and I will be honest, it is much better than that one I purchased for him. This has some lovely illustrations, it is a great way to start to introduce words and pictures and it is perfect for the age range.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot emphasize enough (as a parent of a baby) how much I love high contrast books ...and this one actually has a plot! Authors: if you want a book that *we parents* are going to read and re-read to our babies--give it a plot. I very much recommend this book for parents who want their new babies to "see" what's on the page and do not want to get bored reading it to them repeatedly.

Thank you to NetGalley for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I love how this basic black and white broad books are getting more details in the drawings and words to describe the pictures! This one is silly and cute.