cover image Guess Who? Board Book

Guess Who? Board Book

Taro Gomi, Chronicle Books. Chronicle Books, $4.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-8118-0021-1

A bevy of bright faces comprises this small, interactive board book, the first in the Peek-A-Boo series. Sturdy, highly glossed pages showcase the cheerful visages of various animals, humans or toys that have open holes in place of illustrated eyes. These die-cuts let each spread function as a mask to be looked through, and the openings are just the right size for toddler fingerplay. But readers will find the true guessing game in the book's text. Each left-hand page offers a clue to the identity of the character depicted (``I like to chase mice''), while the right-hand page delivers the answer (``I am a cat''). The appeal here extends beyond toddlerdom--beginning readers will enjoy the simple sentence structure. Gomi's ( Spring Is Here ; Where's the Fish? ) lustrous palette will generate enthusiasm even after repeated viewings, and his lumpy, purple monster--sporting two teeth and a fuchsia tongue--is not to be missed. Ages 1-5. (Aug.)