Checkers and Dot

Checkers, a boy wearing a checkerboard vest, and Dot, a girl in a polka-dot jumper, star in a lively primer on patterns: “Say ‘hello’ to Checkers./ Say ‘hello’ to Dot./ This is their cat, Stripesy./ This is their dog, Spot.” Newcomer Lum keeps things simple with a b&w palette and crisp illustrations whose pared-down, geometric aesthetic has a dash of Hello Kitty; patterns also appear in the background of each spread, emphasizing the concept. Checkers and Dot introduce select animals in Checkers and Dot at the Zoo, available simultaneously. Up to age 4. (Oct.)