Animals

In the face of injunctions against looking at the world (figuratively) in terms of black and white, experts in child development, believing that newborns in fact perceive their environment as, literally, black and white, now advise using high-contrast designs to stimulate babies visually. Accordingly, the illustrations in this board book are black and white, with color relegated to brightly patterned borders. Pictures are stylized, with solid shapes, thick lines and plenty of curves; most use white backgrounds, a few more intriguingly drop out images from black backgrounds. At about eight-and-a-half-inches square, the format is just large enough to convey the pictures' visual rhythms without exaggerating their simplicity. Ages 3 mos-2 yrs. (Apr.)