Books are the gateway to literacy. If children are taught to enjoy books from a young age then there is a better chance that they will show an interest in reading throughout their lives. Familiarity with books can also automatically increase a child’s ability to recognize words as well as instill a better sense of spelling and proper sentence formation. Of course, the key to getting a reader’s attention is to have an entertaining story and this is especially essential when it comes to books for small children. “The Little Box of Love” is a set of four books that expertly achieves the delicate balance between entertainment and education.
“The Little Box of Love” is a set of books published by The Learning Company. All the books are written by Russell Ginns, a game expert who is renowned for his work on “Sesame Street,” “Hooked on Phonics” and—most recently—several successful app games produced by Big Yellow Taxi Inc. The four books contained in the box set are intended for toddlers and each one conveys a message about love in a fun and unique way.
“Love Is…” tells the story of a day in the life of father dog and his puppy. Every page shows how the parent and child enjoy each other’s company and, therefore, illustrates how even simple things (like eating cookies and reading stories) are special when they are shared with a loved one. This story is written in very basic non-rhyming text and it is intended for small children. However, the adorable message and stunning illustrations will likely make this book popular among older children and adults too.
“Hamster Hugs” is a book that includes a rhyming verse on every page that ultimately ends in a parent animal bestowing affection (such as hugs, kisses, tickles, etc.) on a baby animal. The colorful illustrations and myriad of animal characters (including somewhat offbeat ones like hamsters and walruses) will surely get kids attention and the sing-song quality of the text makes it a perfect candidate for reading aloud. Additionally, as a parent reads this book to their child they can interact with the text by hugging and snuggling their child along with the story.
“Fuzz and Curly” tells the tale of two sheep—most likely brothers or best friends—who are very different but love each other deeply despite being opposites. The story is very heartfelt and upbeat with colorful illustrations and rhyming text and it contains a message that will resonate with adults as well as children.
“Monster Love” is a silly and hilarious book that explains how love can be conveyed in different ways. The main characters are monsters who do not express love through hugs or kisses, instead they show affection by giving each other moldy cheese, severed mummy arms and old hats infested by rats. Although this might sound gruesome, the story is extremely cheerful and cute with delightful rhyming verses and brightly colored illustrations that are sure to bring a smile to both children and adults.
Overall, I give “The Little Box of Love” book set 5/5 stars and urge anyone with small children to give it a try. These books provide entertaining and educational opportunities and they can be read and enjoyed over and over again. Additionally, the simple text and basic word structures make these stories perfect candidates for the first book that a child can read on their own. Best of all, apps associated with these books will be available soon.
“The Little Box of Love” sells for $22.99 and is available on the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publisher website:
http://www.hmhco.com/shop/k12/The-Learning-Company/9780544357952
If you liked this book set, I strongly recommend looking up the other three sets in the series:
The Little Box of Laughs
The Little Box of Bedtime
The Little Box of Classics