Judy’s Library Corner – When Simple is Entertaining.

I find my best stuff when I snoop around the reserve shelf at work, peeking at the spot where the children’s librarians (my friends) keep their stash. It’s one of the perks of working at a library (stealing titles from the people in the know). This one caught my eye because of its simplicity.

When I stumbled upon it, I had not yet read any reviews about it, or seen it mentioned in any trade magazines. But the title, “Press Here” (by Herve Tullet), with a simple yellow dot in the center, grabbed my attention. I had to see what was inside.

And I was not disappointed. This is one of those books that makes you slap your forehead and say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”  It’s simple, straightforward, interactive, and most of all, addicting.

As you’d expect, you begin the book by pushing the yellow dot. When you turn the page you find you’ve turned one dot into two. Then you’re instructed to rub the dot on the left…and magically,on the next page, the dot on the left has turned red!

The instructions and results escalate from there. After shaking the book on one page, you find the commotion has led to a scattering of the dots on the next page. At one point a simple clap makes the dots ‘grow’ with each page turn.

The simplicity and creativity is pure genius. (I also love the simplicity of the text, meaning a new reader could have fun reading this book alone) The book ends with an invitation to start all over again, and I have to say I was tempted.

The first time I flipped through it, I was standing in a group of adults. As we read the pages, and simple instructions, I have to say I was not the only one who found myself clapping, pushing, and blowing, to see what would happen next. If a group of grown ups can be so easily led into the magic of a book’s text, I have no doubt the little people in my life would love this book even more.

It’s a definite title on my list of books to purchase, as birthdays and holidays roll around. And it’s a book I wouldn’t mind reading over and over again, curled up on a sofa with a child I love. That is, as long as I get to be the first one to push the dot on the opening page…