{"id":4489,"date":"2012-06-03T18:28:59","date_gmt":"2012-06-03T16:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents-blog\/?p=4489"},"modified":"2022-06-22T10:40:07","modified_gmt":"2022-06-22T08:40:07","slug":"reviews-of-great-kids-books-for-3-5yr-olds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/lifestyle\/book-reviews\/reviews-of-great-kids-books-for-3-5yr-olds\/","title":{"rendered":"Reviews of great kids books for 2-5yr olds"},"content":{"rendered":"

AFRICAN ANIMALS ABC<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

By Philippa-Alys Browne<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not fussy<\/em> when it comes to choosing books for my one-year-old. But I am discerning. (Which, my husband says, is a euphemism for fussy.)<\/p>\n

You see, so many of the kiddie books we\u2019re given have pretty pictures, but rhymes that don\u2019t quite scan. Or missing apostrophes (Its fun at the sea-side.) Or a warped sense of gender roles (He likes to work. She likes to cook.) And this is why I\u2019m extremely careful when buying books for our daughter. I check them for spelling, grammar, rhymes that flow properly and messages that \u2013 while they needn\u2019t be hugely meaningful \u2013 aren\u2019t socially worrisome.<\/p>\n

Philippa-Alys Browne\u2019s AFRICAN ANIMALS ABC<\/em> is a magnificent book, and one I can\u2019t wait to read to my daughter. Or, if we\u2019re being accurate, have her \u2018read\u2019 to me.<\/p>\n

Its pictures are authentic and beautiful African-style illustrations (or perhaps lino-cuts) of African animals \u2013 some common, some less so \u2013 with an appropriate verb:<\/p>\n

Bushbaby blinks
\nDassie drinks
\nImpala grazes
\nQuail scuttles
\nYellow-billed kite soars in the sky<\/p>\n

The words chosen are lovely \u2013 some are easy, like \u2018Crocodile snaps\u2019; others are a bit more challenging, like \u2018Porcupine quivers\u2019. And, at the back, there\u2019s a useful blurb on each of the pictured animals for when she\u2019s a bit older or starts asking questions:<\/p>\n

The\u00a0umhutu or mosquito is an insect. The common household mosquito can be found throughout Africa.<\/p>\n

Nyala are antelopes that can be found in Southern African. They live and graze in forests and when they are scared, they make a barking sound.<\/div>\n
Also, it\u2019s a sturdy board book, which means my little monster can\u2019t rip it to pieces.<\/div>\n

In the 13 months of her life, our daughter has been to the bush twice, with a third trip coming up in a few months. So, to have a book with which she can grow accustomed to some of the interesting animals (her word: \u2018amals\u2019) we see there, is a great gift.<\/p>\n

AFRICAN ANIMALS ABC is also a wonderful gift for foreigners with small children.<\/p>\n

\"kids<\/p>\n

—————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n

WE ALL WENT ON SAFARI<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Laurie Krebs & Julia Cairn<\/p>\n

Subtitled \u2018A Counting Journey through Tanzania\u2019, this lovely book introduces little readers (I\u2019d say older toddlers \u2013 aged 2 to 5 \u2013 who are still being read to, and 6- and 7-year olds who are just starting to read for themselves) to three things:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Tanzania<\/li>\n
  2. Safaris<\/li>\n
  3. Counting<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The story starts with a large extended family going on \u2018safari\u2019 at the start of a sunny day and spying a lonely leopard. They count \u2018one\u2019 (in Swahili, \u2018moja\u2019). Then, two (\u2018mbili\u2019) ostriches running. Then, three (\u2018tatu\u2019) giraffes grazing. And so on, through beautifully illustrated and laid out pages, to ten (\u2018kumi\u2019) enormous elephants.<\/p>\n

    The use of descriptive verbs (\u2018Up bobbed some hefty hippos\u2019), colourful adjectives (\u2018Grasslands damp with dew\u2019, \u2018Zigzag zebras\u2019) and tidy rhyme is careful and clever. And right at the end, as an extra, are pages on the animals of Tanzania, the Maasai people, Swahili names and their meanings, facts about Tanzania, a map and the full list of numbers, one to ten \u2013 all with stunning illustrations and useful pronunciation.<\/p>\n

    I can\u2019t wait for my littlie to be just old enough to graduate from board books and have this read to her. In the interim, you should buy it. It\u2019s something really different.<\/p>\n

    \"kids<\/p>\n

    —————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n

    BEAR TAKES A TRIP
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

    By Stella Blackstone & Debbie Harter<\/p>\n

    \"kids<\/a><\/p>\n

    \u2018Bear has a very long journey to make. There are lots of things for him to take.\u2019<\/p>\n

    So he wakes up early, at 7.00am. By 8.30am he\u2019s made his bed, washed his face, eaten his breakfast and packed his case. Filled with vibrantillustrations \u2013 some of the prettiest and most colourful I\u2019ve seen in a children\u2019s book \u2013 this wonderful story introduces little readers to telling the time, but it also has supplementary messages about making preparations, about taking trips and about spending time with friends.<\/p>\n

    (In terms of age range, I\u2019d say older toddlers \u2013 aged 2 to 5 \u2013 who are still being read to, and 6- and 7-year olds who are just starting to read for themselves.)<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re a family that travels regularly, or that is planning a trip, this is a great way to introduce your kids to getting ready, getting going, being patient and enjoying their surroundings. But beyond that, the story\u2019s core focus is time-telling.<\/p>\n

    There are clocks and watches on every page, explanations of \u2018noon\u2019, \u2018midnight\u2019, \u2018quarter to\u2019 and so on, and pictures of different clock faces, with the big and little hands in different positions. I love it. It\u2019s a nice buy, too, for a long car journey.<\/p>\n

    We have a seven-year-old littlie living with us, and she\u2019s starting Clocks at school, so I\u2019m planning on testing this book out with her to see how she likes it\u2026<\/p>\n

    This article was originally written for Jozikids by Tiffany Markman in 2012.<\/em><\/p>\n

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