Picture This...

This is an amazing book! My son is 14-months old and this has been his favorite book for a few months. He loves looking at all the pictures and has learned many of his first words from this book. He also loves searching for the little pictures in the background of each page. This is also my favorite children's book that we have. We have had it for a year and I am still finding new ways in which all the pictures are interconnected with each reading. I never tire of reading it to my son and we read it a lot! Because it is a picture book with a single word description on each page it leaves the reader freedom to elaborate and make up stories about the people and objects. It is an excellent book and I plan to give it at every baby shower and birthday party I attend.

What an amazing book! Seemingly a simple book at first, with each page "Picture This" increases in complexity and fascination. Each picture refers back (or forward) to other illustrations in the book in clever, intelligent ways. This book is a joy to read through. My son and I can't put it down when we reach the end; we immediately bounce back to the beginning to recommence our journey. I plan on giving this to every child (and perhaps an adult or two) I know.

This is a great book for a variety of ages of children. You can start by reading the little ones this book because there is only one word or label per page, such as "hill" or "snowman". So the ones who are impatient can keep flipping those pages fast as you read! When they get older and learn to read it's a great book to start with, because they can match the word with the picture in the book. And at any age it is fun to examine the gorgeous illustrations. Not only do many of the objects reappear from one page to another, but if you are paying close attention you can watch the progression of the seasons. I loved this book so much I bought it as a gift for a friend, and now we are both hooked on all books with Alison Jay illustrations!

One would think that a picture book with only one word per page would quickly become dull, but this book keeps me guessing every time I read it to my 1-year-old. The pictures are beautifully done in folk-art style, and although the main picture is simply labelled, each page has visual references to previous and future pages - I find something new on each reading! Most importantly, my son loves it and it's a great vocabulary builder ("clock", "car", "book", "snowman", etc.). I disagree with the suggested age range: this is a board book and great for babies and toddlers, but the reading level is perhaps too simplistic for 7-8 year olds.

At first glance, Alison Jay's Picture This is a beautifully illustrated book of familiar objects. Her folk art style of strong color and simple lines will appeal to young "book lookers." But look further, study the pictures and subtlties catch your eye. The spotted dog jumps and chases his ball on the page "dog" and appears again, much smaller on the following page, as do the two adults. Look again! The adults are now tumbling down the hill, and the dog's ball is featured on the "ball" page! The adults, the dog, the ball as well as a teddy bear, a plane, a lighthouse and many other objects appear and re-appear, often disgused as tiny details. Young readers will spot them! Adults will search for them! Everyone will enjoy this unusual picture book. A perfect book for sharing.