My Big Book of Happy Sounds

PreS-K–In an intriguing version of ASMR for toddlers, this board book features squared-off scenes and label-like phrases or words to call out or impress upon readers, paired with associated sounds with every setting. A picture of a kitchen, for example, shows a red-haired father with pale skin giving a baby bottle of milk to the baby in a high chair while another child pours juice. The children both have brown skin. The labels for this scene are “preparing a milk bottle,” “microwave,” “toaster,” “buttered toast,” and “pouring juice.” A scene set at home is labeled with “guitar,” “cat,” “radio,” “fish tank,” and “whistling.” Unlike Taro Gomi, who stuck with active verbs for a similar display in Seeing, Saying, Doing, Playing, this book’s creator features things that make sounds as well as sounds themselves, as in “whistling.” Nevertheless, with primary colored, cheerful scenes, this is an ideal book for the point-and-name games that are a part of so many toddler lessons.