The Boy has recently been sent two books from Barefoot Books to review. Barefoot Books publish books celebrating art and stories from a range of different cultures, sharing the world's diversity.
The Beeman (by Laurie Krebs and Valeria Cis)
In 'The Beeman', a young boy explains about his Grandpa and his hobby of keeping bees. Using prose, it explains the different clothing needed and how Grandpa looks after his beehives in order for them to produce honey which is then sold to the people of the town. At the end of the book is a visual glossary explaining some of the different processes and terms used throughout the book.
The illustrations in this book are full colour with soft tones used in every picture. Every page is adorned with beautiful drawings and they really engage the reader, and the child. I liked that the story was written in simple rhyming prose, which made it more interesting to read and listen to. The visual glossary at the back is a good idea but more suited to older children than The Boy at three and a half years.
'Driving My Tractor' (by Jan Dobbins and David Sim)
'Driving My Tractor' is a delightful book with an accompanying CD, which tells the story of a farmer who drives around his farm collecting the animals up on the back of his trailer. As he moves from page to page, the seasons change which provides a brilliant opportunity to discuss seasonal change and look for the similarities and differences in nature.
The book also allows for mathematical development through the progressive number of animals that need to be collected. At the very end of the book is a visual glossary to help explain some of the machinery and crops that can be found on a farm.
Both books are very appropriate for under-fives; 'The Beeman' shows life in another country (albeit in a familiar style), but 'Driving My Tractor' is the one that most children in the UK can equate to as many will have visited a farm and it therefore draws on experience to help explain.
I was sent these products for the purpose of this review, my opinions are honest and unbiased.
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