Gregg Dreise, Is That You? Magabala Books, July 2024, 9 pp., RRP $14.99 (board), ISBN 9781922613301
Designed for very young children, this board book is a tool for interaction and connection between adult and child.
Often overlooked is the value books have for creating a shared experience between readers. This is especially true when a book is read aloud, which is the only way for babies and toddlers to access the text of a book. Is that you? has been created so that on every page the reader asks the child a question which might elicit a movement or action, thus creating a tactile, memorable experience for both.
Toddlers and babies are developing their concentration and comprehension skills, so we can’t expect a narrative story to hold their attention. However, books like this allow them to develop the habit of reading and form bonds with their adult reader that will provide for the progression to picture storybooks. They form trust in the process of reading to deliver entertainment and expansion of their world view.
Each page features an Australian animal, and the accompanying text identifies an action the animal ‘likes to do’, and then invites the readers to imitate the animal. It’s simple, but exactly right for babies and toddlers. In fact, the more the adult gets involved as a participant, the more the child will enjoy the experience. While the style of the images isn’t really my favourite style, I need to remember that the target audience is not as particular as I am.
Yes, a book like this feels simple when an adult reads it to themselves, but when read aloud to the intended audience, it becomes a gateway to the wonder, connection and joy of reading.
Reviewed by Cherie Bell
