The little giraffe who lost her spots by Jedda Robaard

Little Creatures series. The Five Mile Press, 2016. ISBN 9781760400392
(Ages: 1-4) Recommended. This is a new title in the Little Creatures series, all of which are about an animal who has lost something and is trying to get it back. Others in the series include The little mouse who lost her squeak and The little bear who lost her way. They are all playful and enjoyable to read. In this title, Little Giraffe wakes up feeling panicked because she has lost her spots. She finds many other spots and even tries painting on some new ones... but nothing can replace those she has lost. Children will enjoy the funny ending when she realises she is still wearing her pyjamas and her spots aren't lost after all!
The flaps - some which open up to double the page height - make for an interactive reading experience for young children and the board book format and durable flaps make it suitable for independent exploration. The narrative, while kept short and simple, integrates some more interesting vocabulary, such as panicked, successful and familiar, so is wonderful word exposure for toddlers and preschoolers. The soft, watercolour illustrations by Robaard portray the cute, cartoon style main characters. The fun typeface is large and integrated with the illustrations, making it perfect for preschoolers and their developing awareness of print.
Nicole Smith-Forrest