Where Is Baby's Belly Button? [Board book]

As an ESL and newcomers classroom teacher (A newcomers classroom is for children who have been in country for less than a year, speak English as a second language and such classrooms use scaffolded methods of teaching in hopes of being able to transition these children to a mainstream classroom), I often have to be innovative in how to teach primary and intermediate children basic language skills that mainstream children of their own grade level would consider "baby" lessons.

Books like this one are a God-send. I can drill this book a few times a week at the beginning of the school year and within a few weeks, all of my students have the parts of the body from this book down pat. My older children (intermediates - 4th to 6th grade) at first objected to the book, but then they started having fun and forgot about the book being a "baby" book.

The book itself is a series of flap pages with big bright easy-to-read text. After one reads the text, they can flip up the flap and reveal the part of the body being taught on the page. It is constructed of cardboard and heavy card stock. The simple language phrases such as "Where is baby's belly button?" are easy for children to memorize and use. The bright colorful illustrations serve to bring out the text and allow easy recognition of the parts of the body.

I highly recommend this book for infants, younger ESL (English as a Second Language) learners, and younger children in general.

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan

This nifty little board book is essentially a peek-a-boo book with flaps. It measures approximately 8 " x 7 " x  ", and is constructed of cardboard with heavy card stock for the flaps. The images are simply illustrated, yet brightly colored with creatively contrasted backgrounds that produce interest. The text appears on the left side of the book with bold, solid colored backdrops that emphasis the large black printing, and compliment the illustrations on the opposing page. The writing consists of short, four or five word sentences, such as, "Where are baby's eyes?" The reader lifts the flap and it says, "Under the hat." The picture shows a baby hiding under a hat, and when the flap is lifted the baby's face is revealed. She is pointing to her eyes.

"Where is the Baby's Belly Button" has been one of my son's most requested books for a year now; he's nearly two-years old. He lovingly refers to this book as the "baby" book, and he has taught me that he has learned where his eyes, mouth, belly button, feet, and hands are, in addition to understanding the meaning of the words, hat, cup, shirt, cat, bubbles and WHERE. The question, "Where?" comes out of his mouth probably 20 or 30 times everyday, and I am certain it's because of this book. I wish the flaps were made of a heavier card stock as they have become creased over time, which is expected with use, but also preventable with a heavier stock. This book has been a huge hit, and one I haven't gotten tired of reading over and over again. I recommend this book for one-year olds and up as the interactive feature, (lifting of the flaps) is too advanced for younger babies, however an infant would probably find the images fascinating all the same.