Well, hello everyone! Thank you to all who are still out there, visiting my site! It has been more than a few months since my last post. I took a hiatus as our family moved (for the second time in two years…during a pandemic…!), and I had the tremendous opportunity to start a new librarian position in a new-to-me public library system! It has been an adventure and a half (and then some), but altogether it’s been pretty great! Now…let’s get to a new review!

Courtesy of the kind folks at Pajama Press, I had the opportunity to review the adorable picture book Animals Move by Jane Whittingham. You may recognize Jane’s books being featured on this site before. Jane is not only a fantastic children’s author but also a wonderful fellow librarian I have the pleasure of knowing! Happy reading and thanks for sticking around!

“Calves swim, hatchlings bounce, porcupettes nubble, kittens pounce.” Animals Move, written by Jane Whittingham, is rhyming picture book all about movement. Featuring an array of baby animals and the various ways they move, Animals Move features photographic spreads which spotlight one baby animal, one specific action, and one child participating in the same action. For example, a photograph capturing a foal taking a leap over a field of grass and buttercups is paired with a photograph of a beaming child, with arms stretched wide, taking a leap over grass. Animals Move features a terrific variety of baby animals in its mix- everything from ducklings and a puppy, to cygnets and a cria!- in addition to a strong and expansive vocabulary list of movements- everything from hugs and nibbling, to bouncing and grooving.

A warm, inviting picture book sure to entice babies and toddlers for repeated reading with its vibrant, sweet, inclusive photographs and romping fun rhymes, Animals Move is a fantastic pick for action and movement-based storytimes. End papers include a pictorial layout of all the animals featured in the picture book, as well as the names of the baby animals and their respective grownup counterpart. Back matter includes a note about the importance of ”active movement…for children’s growth..physical development…mental health…and self regulation”, as well as suggested activities to try in conjunction with Animals Move. Readers looking for bright, simple and educational action-based picture books or board books; or for those have enjoyed titles such as The Babies and Doggies Book by John Schindel and Molly Woodward or Wild One by Jane Whittingham and Noel Tauzon, Animals Move is the perfect pick. Note: Animals Move is published in “Toddler Tough” format: a more compact picture book size and form, with a padded cover and sturdy, slightly thicker glossy pages. Great for exploring little hands!

I received a copy of Animals Move courtesy of Pajama Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own. Title has been published and is currently available.