I hear, from a reliable source, that the best books for babies and toddlers are often the simplest. Well, when I say ‘hear’, I’m embellishing slightly; she can’t actually speak yet, at least not coherently. But the old adage ‘actions speak louder than words’ is certainly true in my daughter’s case.

“That’s Not My Teddy” is an Usborne Touchy-Feely book, one of a range of board books for very young children, written by Fiona Watt. It’s the best of all possible shapes: a perfect square. Squares are better than circles, triangles, hexagons and rhombuses for obvious reasons, and more aesthetically pleasing than rectangles. 16.7 cm by 16.7 cm is a nice size too. Yes, I’m ashamed to say I got my ruler out to measure it. The pages are nice and chunky, which makes turning them easier for little hands that lack dexterity. There are only four pages inside the book, yet the spine is 2.2 cm thick. Do the maths. Them’s thick pages.

The tale begins on the front cover. Below the title is a simple drawing of a teddy holding its paws up. All the illustrations are done by Rachel Wells, and she really knows how to draw for small children. You know what I mean: large, smooth, colourful shapes, outlined with bold, black lines; capturing cuddliness and cuteness with the minimum of effort. But … look closely now. Do you see anything different about this teddy’s paws? Why, I do believe that this teddy has got woolly paws. And I don’t mean drawn-on woolly. The card has been cut away to reveal little patches of wool for little fingers to touch. Ooh, how funny! And at the bottom of the page, continuing on from the title “That’s not my teddy….” is the explanation “it’s paws are too woolly.”

The book carries on in a similar style. Each different teddy bear takes up a double page; on the left side are the words “That’s n
ot my teddy”, and on the right is the reason why we know it’s not. When the teddy’s nose is too soft, the teddy has a big round nose of smooth cloth. When it’s paws are too rough, the material on its paws is coarse and bumpy. Shiny eyes to touch, fuzzy ears to tickle… you’re getting the idea, right? And all the way through, on each page, a little white mouse can be found peeping over the teddy’s shoulder, carefully appraising each one.

But every children’s book needs to have a happy ending, doesn’t it? On the last double page, we find a brown teddy bear, plainer than the others, but a comforting familiar plainness; definitely the nicest, cuddliest bear in the book. And if the mouse’s victorious posture isn’t enough to tell you so, the words “That’s my teddy!” leap out at you, and “His tummy’s so furry” confirm that our long search is over. And it’s true: his tummy is the softest, furriest tummy of all.

The beauty is the combination of simplicity and careful design. The repetition of “That’s not my teddy” and the following short sentences are an ideal way to teach first words and the colourful pages and big bright pictures hold small children’s attention. The different textured surfaces add an extra dimension to stimulate the senses, providing a surprise at each turn of the page. It’s also a sturdy design, with wipe-clean pages and rounded corners, that should resist rough handling.

This is an ideal first book, suitable even for younger babies, who will love just to grip it and stare at the bright drawings. The other books in the “That’s not my…” range feature bunnies, kittens, puppies, trains and tractors, and they can all be ordered online at www.usborne.com. It’s books like this that encourage children to love reading, and it deserves to be praised accordingly. I do, there
fore, praise.