Perfect for babies from the moment they are born. With simple, high-contrast black-and-white illustrations and just a few words per page.
This classic is an ideal board book for babies and toddlers. It’s a cheerful bit of fun will be treasured on your child’s bookshelf and read for many, many years.
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Why Read this Book
- Look Look! is an ideal newborn book, something to look at with them or place on the floor with them. It’s not a book that needs to be read from cover to cover. It’s a stop-and-enjoy the flowers sort of book. Allow children as much time as they’d like on each page.
- This book has stood the test of time – it’s a classic because it is so good and beloved. It’s perfect for newborn babies because of the high-contrast and simple black-and-white illustrations. The few words are presented in a curvy red type because red is the first primary color newborns see.
- When your child “outgrows” the need for true baby books – chunky board books with simple illustrations and extremely few words – you may feel tempted to move the books on. I recommend keeping these books as children do remember them. When the time comes to begin reading on their own they will turn to their first baby books as if the books were old friends, joining them on the new reading journey.
Why Black and White Books for Babies
When babies are first born they don’t see as well as you might think. Their eyes are still developing. In fact, for the first three months they can only see things clearly that are 8-11 inches away.
That’s why early childhood professionals recommend books with “high contrast” and “black-and-white” – because black-and-white illustrations have the greatest contrast and babies can see them.
Bold images (like black-and-white illustrations) stimulate the development of optic nerves in a new baby. The illustrations in this book are simple, high-contrast, and black-and-white works of art.
Illustrations like the ones in this book help babies learn to see and focus, and enrich their daily life.
A short small board book like this one can seem like something that is super simple to create – from the words to the artwork. The truth is that it’s the opposite. The best board books – and this book is one of the best – are incredible works of skill. The creator of this book, Peter Linenthal, taught art in elementary schools for twenty years. He was deeply experienced in understanding what children need as they develop, and he created little books of perfection for his audience. Children who have access to high-quality books like this one turn into kids who read with ease when it’s time for school and adults who know they can find what they want to learn about and/or enjoy in books.
Book Facts
Author / Illustrator: Peter Linenthal
Copyright: 1998
Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Format: Board Book
Age Range: Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers, Ages birth to 3/4
Reading Level: Little Ones
About the Book Art: The illustrations were created using black-and-white cut-paper art.
A Personal Story
“My sister gave us this book when my son was first born. I will tell you that it did not appeal to me at the time. Like many new moms I was overwhelmed by how much my life changed with the birth of my son. I also had not heard a thing about the benefits of black and white for babies. In spite of my lack of enthusiasm my son pulled me along with this particular book. He was in love with it from the start. The content of the story appealed to him perfectly as a young baby. I changed my tune in time and fell in love with this little gem myself.”
~ Sarah Laucks, Beehive Books and Art Founder
See Inside
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Beavers by Gail Gibbons