TouchThinkLearn: Baby Animals

TouchThinkLearn

by Xavier Deneux

Featuring spreads with raised, shaped objects that fit into scooped cutouts on their opposite page, TouchThinkLearn books offer the youngest learners an opportunity to explore in a hands-on, multisensory way. Seeing the image, tracing its shape, saying its name—these modes of perception combine to stimulate understanding of essential concepts. Discover a polar bear by tracing its raised outline on one side, and the concave shape of its cozy den on the other! Related words on each spread offer a springboard for further conversation to encourage the language skills crucial to later successful learning. In a format unlike any other, these groundbreaking books translate abstract thought into tangible knowledge.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

16 pages, Board Book

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Xavier Deneux studied at Beaux-Arts de Paris. He has worked as a graphic artist, creating posters and decorations for various industries, and has illustrated more than forty children's books. He lives and works in Paris, France.

Reviews

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a story, but my 3m old was a big fan. It has textured pages with stuff for her to grab and then key words so we can talk about what we are seeing!

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Babydieren. Tekst en illustraties: Xavier Deneux.

Oh, verliefd op een boek! Als er een nieuwe Deneux verschijnt is dat telkens een feestje. Maar deze keer is het wel echt een groot feest want… dit peuterboekje gaat over: babydieren! An sich al super schattig maar getekend door Xavier Deneux hartveroverend cute.

In dit boekje staan de mamadieren naast de babydieren en over elke soort wordt in een paar trefwoorden iets verteld. Die woorden sporen aan om je eigen (voorlees)-verhaal te verzinnen. Zo leert je peuter spelenderwijs nieuwe woorden en begrippen.

Doordat het boek uit stevig karton bestaat kan je het blijven (voor)-lezen. Want geloof me: dit wordt een favorietje in de boekenkast. Geniet er (samen) van! De ijsbeer is mijn favoriet, of toch de kikker, nee de krokodil,…

[Janet]

An added feature in this die cut board book by Deneux, is the addition of words in small print for the adult sharer of this title to relate to the child. For example with the bird some words included are branch, perching, and huddling. By the way the various board pages of this series are very smooth.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xavier Deneux reliably comes out with board books that are amusing and educational-- this one does not disappoint! Per usual with these books, too, I appreciate the textured pages that littles can experience even before letter recognition. Expanded vocabulary on the page gives older caretakers/readers a vernacular to discuss the illustrations with.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this one. It's less of a read-aloud and more of an experience...meant to share with babies and toddlers and let them feel and use the vocabulary words. The last scene is a bit weird...it kinda looks like the mama crocodile is eating her baby...but up until that point, very cute.

[Gwenn Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute idea but my little ones spent the whole time trying to rip up the raised areas

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to two different groups of toddlers, but it's definitely more of a one-on-one book.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My baby loves books from this author! They are all very vibrant, fun to touch, and include great vocabulary so the story can be different each time you read it again.

[Anna Fillmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This trend of incorporating lots of touch into board books with die cuts is really interesting. I am assuming that it is based on research that indicates that linking multiple senses together (in this case touch/sight/oral language) leads to more robust neural development in the brain. This book (and series) seems to do this in a way that will really draw the interest and curiosity of babies and toddlers. I can't wait to see them in action in the library. They also seem to be strong enough to withstand a lot of circulation. The book also contains a little list of great vocabulary on each double page spread for use by the adult for engaging in rich conversation. This series is some serious brain food.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another terrific entry in a series encouraging young readers to touch objects while reading words associated with them, this board book focuses on young animals. Thus, the left-hand page features an adult of the species while the right-hand page shows its offspring. The pages have been cut out so that the left-hand page fits back into the right-hand one easily. I like how the page with the young ones features vocabulary associated with the animals; for instance, the one with tadpoles lists wiggling, hopping, and swimming as well as pond and eyes. In addition to the frog, youngsters will find a joey, chicks, cubs, hatchlings from a crocodile and a turtle, puppies, and even a kitten.

[Anna Redman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations and the wonderful raised images for young fingers to explore. The list of words is a lovely reminder of all the word exploration that can be done, even with young minds and simple images.

[Fred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ça suit la lignée de son précédent livre, bien pensé!

[Jennifer Miera · Rating 4 out of 5]

board book