Grandma's Visit

Nancy Gray-Didzbalis was editor of the quarterly magazine, Cloth Doll News.

In this the second set of Tot-Books, authors Sylvie Assathiany and Louise Pelletier, along with illustrator Philippe Béha, will again delight the under-four-year-olds with stories that encourage a toddler’s imagination and questioning mind.

Each story is easy to identify with when one is two (going on three years!). The length of the books is perfect for cozy times of reading to toddlers, who prefer several short stories in succession rather than a longer piece. Also, the books are small in size so tiny fingers can easily hold onto and support the book. It is very important to toddlers that, while they are being read to, they are the ones who hold the book and turn the pages. These books make that possible.

The laminated, bite-proof pages are illustrated with enough simple detail to keep the young folk interested so as to find the meaning, through the pictures, of the words being read aloud. The vivid illustrations are splendid, encompassing the entire page.

While the toddlers delight in looking at the pictures, the over-four-year-olds (ages five to seven) will find the words easy to read, thereby creating not only story time for toddler and adult to enjoy but also for young and older siblings to share in, too!

All four books depict day-to-day aspects of being a toddler — from the dreaded horror of discovering that one’s dummy has disappeared to the pleasures of a visit from Grandma. Each book captures the moment!