Dwell Studio Look
(Dwell Studio, Blue Apple/Chronicle $6.99 Score:)

Infants will be visually attracted to the bold black and white single images that alternate with the slick feeling ones in color. This may eventually become a knowing, naming and touching book, but for the youngest lapsitter, it is a gazing book. Unlike earlier black and white graphic books with targets and faces and other eye catching images, this one has less high contrast patterns. The items chosen for illustration are also less familiar, i.e. a swan, rhino, camel. They are a little on the abstract side for babies. Still they may hold more visual interest and the satin touch of the forms on the page are sure to interest little hands. 

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Rock & Roll Colors
(by Salina Yoon, Scholastic $7.99 Score:)

An oblong cardboard book with thick pages that allow a color disk to slide from one side of the page to another, coloring the two objects pictures. So on the red page it slides from a strawberry to a ladybug. This is novelty book that does not include orange, brown or black. That said, this is a fun book for developing color awareness, knowing and naming and sheer fun in making something happen. 9 months & up.

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2009.

Amazing Baby: Baby, Boo!
(Emma Dodd, Silver Dolphin Books $12.95 Score:)

Share this big cardboard book with baby while you are both sitting or stretched out on the floor. It’s a wonderful collection of baby photos that will bring smiles of recognition to your own baby. Each two page spread features a few words that describe the action with a big photograph on the facing page to match.  Try making some of these faces yourself as you read the words and look at the photos together. This ends with a mirror so baby can see your favorite little face!

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

In My Nest
(by Sara Gillingham and Lorena Siminovich, Chronicle $8.99 Score:)

A charming board book with an attached felt finger puppet bird that sits above the die-cut cardboard pages. With each turn of a page we see a new layer of the nest until we reach the end where the little bird is cozy with its family. A companion book, In My Pond ($8.99 4.5) uses the same concept with a felt fish, a pond and a happy family. Adorable little books for lap sitters.

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Touch and Tickle
(by Sanja Rescek, Childs Play $4.99 Score:) Four little games to play with babies are illustrated in this colorful little board book. You can say the rhymes or play them with the baby in your lap. This darling little book includes: Two Little Eyes, Round and Round the Garden, Criss Cross Apple Sauce, and Slowly, Slowly, Very Slowly. Also worth considering, Bounce & Jiggle with four other lap games. 3 months & up.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2009.