Brilliant Board Books – June 2026 (Part One)
Lift and Learn : Our Weather
- Written by Isabel Potter
- Illustrated by Hannah Tolson
We were absolutely thrilled to receive this topic specific board book, namely weather, as it is one of natures daily impacts on us all, and something children kind of pick up bits here and there regarding, but the ability to give them a more intelligent look at weather sorts their questions and curiosities before they perhaps have even found the words to verbalise aloud.
Weather happens all around us, but have you ever wondered how it works?
How does the wind blow?
What are hailstones?
How do we feel heat?
Those questions and plenty more are answered as the book divides the topic of weather into five clear sections, and just about everything little ones could want to learn about is right here inside this book for them to discover. Snow was a fascinating one for the little ones I shared this book with, as was Thunder, perhaps because both are seemingly so infrequent where we live, but they also enjoyed learning about rain and sunshine just as much.
The book also features lots of flaps for little ones to interact with, revealing addition content for them in the most fun of ways, and flaps are always a huge hit with little ones that they quite literally will have no idea that they are learning as they enjoy and engage with this book.
The topic of weather is one that is covered in primary school, in fact I used to frequently gather up resources from the school library I ran to create topic boxes for exactly this learning, and this book right here would have been top of my list and the first book they saw upon opening the box in their classroom. The format allows for younger readers, those who struggle with too much content in a book, and the most reluctant of readers to grab this book and dive right in, it really is that perfect.
Buzz like a Bee!
- Illustrated by Guilherme Karsten
- Published by Nosy Crow
One of the amazing series, Animal Actions, is this one right here – Buzz like a Bee! It holds inside its beautifully illustrated pages a menagerie of insects for little ones to be introduced to and/or recognise, alongside suggested actions little ones can enjoy completing that encompasses the actions of the respective insect being detailed on the page. There is spiders, snails, caterpillars, and of course bees. These are readily findable in gardens (and sometimes our houses!) so little ones can actively go search for these, and one or more of them is bound to become a favourite. My young nephew is now saying spider so he will absolutely be thrilled to see them feature inside a board book, and through the use of bright, vibrant colours alongside earthy tones depicting the habitats of these creatures little ones will be loving each and every beautiful two page spread. Furthermore the ability to engage with the book through the sliders scattered throughout this book not only futher entertains little ones but it also teaches them the movements of the insects too. Learning whilst loving a book at a young age helps cement a love of reading that follows them for life, something priceless that us parents/carers are able to gift to the next generation.
Additional titles in this series are available.
Sing along with me! – Little Bo Peep
- Illustrated by Yu-hsuan Huang
- Published by Nosy Crow
We have adored the titles in this Sing along with me series for as long as it became accessible, and this Little Bo Peep addition to the series is just perfect for the current season, and the nicer weather seeing us taking little ones on trips that incorporate farm animals, so what better book to take along your journey, or enjoy at bedtime at the end of an adventure filled day then one that hosts Bo Peep, and her sheep of course!
As the rhythmic lyrics we all know and love from this nursery rhyme unfold through this book we get to meet Bo Peep as she searches for her lost sheep. Through interacting with the sliders on the pages we get an appreciation for her searching efforts, and the return of her sheep complete with wagging tails, all just as the rhyme details, beautifully illustrated and unfolding with actions right before your very eyes. This cements this rhyme as an absolute favourite amongst children and adults alike as the utter beauty of everything this book holds is truly appreciated by all. The use of pastel colours and beautiful landscape scenes hosting Bo Peep and her adventure ensures little ones can see the words coming to life, and I can see why this book is hugely popular with little ones given the combination of a nursery rhyme with beautiful illustrations and the ability to create movement (and be a part of the book through the interactive components), and once again Nosy Crow have published an absolute gem for babies and toddlers to cherish.
Animal Actions – Waddle like a Duck!
- Illustrated by Guilherme Karsten
- Published by Nosy Crow
This book has been an absolute hit from the get go with little ones I shared it with, and that success can be in part assigned to the fantastic format of including sliders inside as well as things to push and pull. There is so much for little ones to interact with throughout this book, and they are in no hurry to turn the page to find what awaits them there. The pages with the horses on and the ability for little ones to interact to cause the clip clopping motion of a horses legs was the most popular spreads inside this book for those who enjoyed it immensely with me.
Other actions in the book that little ones get to see the animals do by engaging with the book include a chicken pecking the ground, and a pig rolling around in mud. It really is such good fun and brings the animals to life by giving them the motion/action they are most popularly known to do. The illustrations are stunning and also play an intergral part in bringing to life those animals which little ones may be familiar with, and yet many may not. The illustrations have a gorgeous Spring time vibe to the choice of colours used, and the scenery/landscape help little ones get context as to where each breed included is known to inhabit. The amount of learning, combined with visual representation, is what makes this a really valuable book to add to your little ones libraries.
Published by
Published
