What Is This? by Antje Damm (2009)

This is a board book, but works fine with groups because the pictures are so clear and interesting.  The question “what is this?” appears on the left page, with an ordinary object on the opposite page, such as a ball of yarn or a clothespin.  After the kids identify the object, the page turn shows that same object with something added that makes it into an animal:  a paper head, tail and legs makes the white yarn a sheep; cut-out feet, eye, and teeth make the clothespin a crocodile.  Both the first picture and the transformed second picture are excellent for vocabulary development.  The “what is this” is printed in a variety of fonts using interesting materials each time, such as sand, frosting, and feathers, which is great for print awareness (and more vocabulary).  It’s often too hard for preschoolers to accurately guess what the revealed animal will be, but it’s fun for them to guess and to comment when they see the answer.  For parents, this could also be a good starting points for crafts at home using everyday objects.       

- Steven Engelfried