Your Pregnancy

#Reading: Kick back with a book

It’s always a good time to read, right?

- BY HELEN SCHÖER

LIFT-THE-FLAP ON A FROZEN WORLD

Pop-up Peekaboo! Penguin tells the sweet story of Polly Penguin as she searches for Charlie Chick. Babies and toddlers can lift big flaps and see five peekaboo surprises pop up from the pages: a sleepy seal resting on the rocks, a huge whale swimming to the surface of the ocean, a colourful squid exploring a deep-sea shipwreck, a beautiful bird preparing to take flight, and a huddle of adorable penguins keeping each other cosy and warm. R140, takealot.com, loot.co.za, Exclusive Books, Reader’s Warehouse, Graffiti Books.

WHERE DID THE LION GET THOSE?

I See a Lion by Elaine Macdonald tells the tale of a lion wearing woolly socks. When the rest of the lion family appears, all of them are dressed for winter, in hats, scarves and mittens. When asked why, Lion replies that winter is coming, and he doesn’t want his family to catch a cold. Soon the other animals are also wearing warm clothing. But where are the items coming from? It doesn’t take long before they realise that Spider is using her spinning skills to make sure they all stay warm and cosy for the winter. R90, takealot.com, loot.co.za, Exclusive Books, Reader’s Warehouse, Graffiti Books.

ALWAYS A POPULAR TOPIC

You simply can’t go wrong with a little book of farm animals. It is universal – all children love them, from babies to tots. Izilwane Zase Pulazini: Farm Animals unpacks this wonderful, stimulatin­g world of the farm with the added extra that it is in a bilingual format, namely isiZulu to English, with different levels of complexity for greater learning and understand­ing. The series is available in all of South Africa’s official languages. Buy it online for R160 from originspub­lishers.co.za. And while you’re on that beautiful website, throw a puzzle in your cart as well – they’re new!

FOR OLDER SIBLINGS

...or buy it now and keep it for when your child is between 9 and 11 years old. Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson stars a black girl (Ryan Hart) and her relatable and lovable family. Yes, they’re American, but their stories are perfectly relatable to life in South Africa too. Ryan’s dad loses his job. The new one pays less, and he’ll have to work nights. So they’re selling the second car and moving to an (old) new house. Ryan is a girl who has much on her mind – school, family, friends, self image – but she knows how to make sunshine out of setbacks. R180, Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

A FEEL FOR NUMBERS

See, Touch, Feel: 123 is a fab first-concepts book that introduces numbers to young children in a fun and simple way. Designed to be a sensory experience, each image is raised with textures to explore. The artwork was created with painted handprints and footprints. R185, Priddy Books.

FOR GRUFFALO FANS

Meet all your favourite characters from the deep dark wood in this brilliant board book based on the bestsellin­g classic picture book The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and experience the story coming to life! Every page has push, pull and slide mechanisms that reveal the story bit by bit. R169, Pan Macmillan Children’s Books.

VROOM VROOM!

What’s in the truck? by Philip Ardagh is a silly tale (and we approve of silliness!) of a dog prince in his truck with a very special delivery. With each page turn, a new vehicle pops out of the last. So inventive and a real treat for a child who is into vehicles. R175, Faber & Faber.

WHERE DOES RUBBISH GO?

Push, pull and slide the tabs to help clean up Earth in Busy Recycle. Learn how the recycling truck does its work, how to reuse materials to make a rocket and recycle your waste. All that action is supported by gentle rhyming text and wonderful illustrati­ons by Mel Matthews. R145, Campbell Books.

SPOT THE DUCKLING

Each page of this sturdy board book is shaped, and the pages are cleverly layered to create a fun farmyard scene. Encourage counting skills while you read and exercise those little eyes by finding the duckling on every page. 10 Fluffy Ducklings, R85, Priddy Books.

BOOK AND PUZZLE COMBO

Learn all about the popular Bible story portrayed in Noah’s Ark while building a fantastic large chunky floor puzzle out of five pieces. Books and puzzles make a great pair, just like the animals, right? R150, Priddy Books.

LIFE UNDER CONSTRUCTI­ON

In What We’ll build: Plans for our Together Future by Oliver Jeffers, a father and daughter set about laying the foundation­s for their life together. Using their own special tools, they get to work, building memories to cherish, a home to keep them safe, and love to keep them warm. A truly beautiful book about a parent’s boundless love, life’s endless opportunit­ies, and how to shape the future. R325, HarperColl­ins.

UGH, YUCK!

Have you ever wondered what a giant’s foot feels like? How about a rotten egg? Revolting Things to Touch and Feel by Roald Dahl delivers a right good gril. R185, takealot.com, loot.co.za, Exclusive Books, Reader’s Warehouse, Graffiti Books.

SIT DOWN AND LAUGH

Oi Dog! by Kes and Claire Gray and Jim Field is a board book that follows on from the award-winning bestseller Oi Frog! It really is hilarious. You’ll all be laughing out loud at the absurdity of animals trying to figure out who sits on what. R189, Pan Macmillan Children’s Books. ●

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