Lift and Look Space

Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408864074
(Age: 0-4) This new Lift and Look board book series from Bloomsbury is reminiscent of the Usborne lift and look board books for young children. These books, which could be classified as very basic information books for babies, speak directly to the reader (eg. 'Where are the rockets going?'), thereby encouraging a shared dialogue (presumably the child would respond to the text). Additional interactivity is supported with flaps to lift on each page in order to find the answer to the question (eg. 'They are going to the moon'). Bright, simple illustrations show the space environment and different things you might see in space.
This is a thick board book with hardy flaps so it should stand up to the demands of very young children. While it is not particularly factual or informative it contains space language such as astronaut, rocket, comet, planets, moon and stars. This series is suitable for young children to explore independently as well as for a shared story, and may lead to further discussion. The preschool target audience will enjoy lifting the flaps to find the information but some children towards the older end of the age range may find the information too simplistic.
Nicole Nelson