The Lost House
By B. B. Cronin
Seek and find books are not difficult to find – ironic isn’t it? However I recently read what I can only describe as a diamond among the cubic zirconia. The Lost House is much more than a seek and find book. It’s an illustrative tour de force.
Grandad has promised to take his two grandchildren (all anthropomorphic bulldogs) to the park. Before they can leave Grandad needs to find a few things – socks, glasses, pocket watch, umbrella, and even his teeth. Do you think they’ll find everything? You should probably help. Be aware, each room and everything in it appears in one bold color. The rooms are packed full of whimsy, eccentricity and household items. The Lost House is beautifully crafted and so visually engaging even older children will want to help find the lost items.
What’s good: Incredibly detailed illustrations that appeal to both young and old.
What’s bad: The palette of room colors can be a little jarring at times.
By Benedikt Groß & Joey Lee
Ever look out of the window of a plane to see the landscape below? Ever play the alphabet game? Now you can do both in this single book. Using satellite imagery the geographer and designer duo of Benedikt Groß & Joey Lee found “accidental letters” in the landscapes across the United States. From holding ponds to highways, from suburbs to fields, children will find the locations and formations very interesting and wonder what letter their neighborhood might hide. Each image spread includes an inset with the town’s location pinpointed on a map and map coordinates. The Alphabet from the Sky began as an MIT project and Kickstarter campaign. Now it’s a picture book that is perfect for the classroom.
What’s good: It encourages children to look at things from new angles.
What’s bad: Probably more intriguing to adults.
