Create your own colourful habitats with the Natural History Museum's new colouring in series for young animal enthusiasts. In Ocean, lift the flaps to reveal animals in their natural habitat, from shallow waters to the sea bed. Then read the accompanying rhyming text to learn about their environment.
PreSchool-K ``Oh Dear!'' is young Buster's response each time thathis search for eggs on his grandmother's farm is futile. Thepattern is the same throughout his search: he looks in the barn, orsty, or pond, where a flap can be lifted to reveal the animal thatlives there, making the sound associated with it. The animal is notlabeled, so young listeners are called upon to make theidentification themselves. When Buster finally tries the henhouse,a second flap reveals the eggs beneath the hen. The book has anattractive, open look, with much white space and clear, large type.The animals and farmyard scenes are large, simple forms in brightcolors. Unfortunately, Buster and his grandmother are doll-like intheir circle heads, dot eyes, and red-spotted cheeks, and do nothold the same appeal. Lift-the-flap books are a gimmick thatchildren love, but these flaps are particularly fragile, and eachis hinged in a different place. Eager hands tugging at them willeasily result in a cry of ``Oh dear!'' before too long. David
