Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

The random blobs of paint on the front cover made me pause to read the content.  I then realise it was written from a child's perspective. Those different sizes of paint blobs are the parents and the child !

This book is about:

little blue and little yellow, who each lived with their parents (same colour but different size as the child) living inside a house (made up of a big random brown blob). One day, the children came out from their house to meet each other and play. While playing, they realised they can become the coloured green. The parents could not recognise their children! 

Interesting aspects of the book: 

• Invoke child's interest that more colours can be created when two different colours are mixed ! 
• What seems to be random irregular blobs of art could mean something to the person who create/paints/draws it.

Young children may lack the maturity to draw or verbalise their knowledge and thoughts. However, they are still learning and internalising, through ways that they can understand. The methods that they deploy may seem strange and difficult to understand for us as adults. Remember, our level of thinking is not the same as young children. When teaching children, we should take the lead from them, not getting them to understand how we think/process our information. 

For:

• toddlers beginning to notice pictures on books. 
• Older toddlers are beginning to name and recognise colours
• preschoolers to encourage them to make their own stories through art

Round trip by Ann Jonas

I think this book should be also known as the story that keeps you TURNING back for more!

This is an instant favourite for me, I had to take in a deep breath after reading this book because it was simply mesmerizing! It also builts on the mood of going on a trip happily and slowly winding the day by going back home.

This book is about:

The scenery, places and things seen along a trip.

Interesting aspects of the book:

After reading the book in the usual reading position, the reader will again be greeted by another set of captivating scenery once the book is being turned upside down. Wonderful "optical illusions" which comprises of different strokes, shapes and lines.The simple sentence on each page adds to the joyful "ride" experience.

"We followed the shore past marshy inlets and summer cottages"

Turn the book over...

"We saw fireworks and stopped to watch"

 

Inspiration for:

• toddlers who simply likes to be read to
• encouraging preschoolers to look out for things during a trip
• preschoolers exploring shadows for art making
• preschoolers exploring optical illusions