Book Reviews: #CYBILS2023 Board Book Finalists

Colorful
Bright
Interactive
Cute
Destined to be a favorite

… everything you want in a board book, yes? There’s no shortage of animals, learning, or engaging questions for young readers, either.

Whether you have a toddler scurrying onto your lap for storytime or you want the perfect gift for a baby shower or toddler birthday, you won’t go wrong with any of the 2023 CYBILS Awards Board Book Finalists.

2023 WINNER

Whose Prints?
Allen, Kari, illustrated by Smith, Kim
Little Simon
Nominated by: Christopher Helton

Pamela @ What We’re Reading Now: If you buy one board book this year, make it Whose Prints? This board book has interactive die-cuts for toddlers to guess what animals left which prints before they turn the page and reveal the answer. Who is that scurrying? Slinking? Swooping? Beautifully illustrated by Kim Smith, Whose Prints? is bound to be a bedtime favorite. Highly, highly recommended 6 months and up.

2023 FINALISTS

Copy That, Copy Cat!: Inventions Inspired by Animals
Tangen, Katrina, illustrated by Orecchia, Giulia
Barefoot Books
Nominated by: Abi

Brooke @ Goodreads: An exceptional and highly interactive board book, where the flaps just keep on coming! This non-fiction text is engaging and interesting, bringing biomimicry to a new level of captivating and fun. And just when you think it’s done, there are more pages full of more flaps than ever. Lots to draw in readers young and old.

Mister Kitty Is Lost!
Pizzoli, Greg
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: natalietate

Kirsten @ Goodreads – Greg Pizzoli has written some of my favorite picture books and this one did not disappoint! Mister Kitty is lost, and we have to help find him! There are holes in the pages that make it seem like we have found him, but it always turns out to be something ridiculous. The ending is hilarious and I won’t spoil it, but I was not expecting it. Kids will delight in this book and it would make a great storytime read-aloud.

Natalie @ Goodreads – Oh no! Who will help a little girl find her cat? This small, durable picture book includes cut-outs that will have you guessing just where Mister Kitty has gone! Explore colors, numbers, and animals—and delight in Pizzoli’s twist ending.

Sneak!
Giménez de Ory, Beatriz / Valdivia, Paloma
Barefoot Books
Publisher/ Author Submission

Brooke @ Goodreads – Sneak! is a story of camouflage and hiding. It works as a pop-up book, without the tabs that you have to pull or always break. The colors are bold and bright. The animals are unique and sneaky, and the print quality is phenomenal. Would make a great gift and capture any toddler’s attention.

Some Dogs
illustrated by Nichols, Lydia
Gibbs Smith
Nominated by: ChristaS

Thompson @ Goodreads – Young readers will love all the playful canines and learn that dogs recognize each other and accept each other no matter their differences. It doesn’t matter if their dog pal is tall or fat, big or small, sleek or shaggy. Dogs all have huge doggy hearts. The board quality is heavier than most board books making this a solid choice for shoppers and little readers’ hands. Each page is cut and layered on top of the next double fold and the book is taller and wider than other board books.

Some of These Are Snails
Higgins, Carter
Chronicle Books
Nominated by: TheBrookeList

Rosemary @ Mom Read It – I love a Carter Higgins book. It’s fun to read, fun to listen to, and the brightly colored collage artwork will keep everyone’s attention. There are so many ways to read this story during a readaloud. Absolute fun and proof that learning is delightful.

Kiera @ Kiss the Book Jr. – You will blow your little one’s minds with these illustrations. Like the title suggests, some of these (circles) are snails, but not all! The author uses deceptively simple methods to explore complex abstract ideas like imagination and metaphor.

Sondy @ Sonderbooks – As with most picture books, you really do need to check this out and hold it in your hands, preferably with a child in your lap. This book is playful and beautiful and best of all, encourages small children to talk about what they know about the simplest kinds of math.