Run, Round Bear

Two titles launch the board book component of Alexandra Tornek's So Smart! series (which already includes a trio of videos/ DVDs) to help babies and toddlers learn about sizes and shapes: Big Fish, Little Fish and Run, Round Bear. In the first, youngsters lift flaps to reveal baby animals; children can then compare the offspring to the larger parent (e.g., ""Hello big cat!/ Hello little kittens!""). In the second title, round, square and triangular die-cut openings transform a snail into a tree and make a mountain of a hat. Shapes reappear throughout the book, providing multiple opportunities for children to identify them. Both books feature bright, simple illustrations that use geometric shapes to create familiar objects and animals.