Peep Inside Animal Homes: 1

I'd always thought information books weren't for very young kids, not this one!This book will engage your child with flaps, peep through holes, beautiful illustrations and simple text. The various flaps are doors, tree top, tree trunks, lily pad, leaves, grass, beehive, berry bush, termite mound etc. We meet horses, hens, tadpoles and frogs, birds, squirrel, rabbits, bees, doormouse, termites, polar bears, beavers, clown fish, hermit crab, tent bats, monkeys and jaguars. There are also second plan animals - they have no description but you can easily engage your child in conversation about them - these are ducks, fox, dragonfly, ants, deer, bear, fish, shark, toucan and snake. We find out where tadpoles live, who may live in a tree hollow, which creature burrows below the ground, what the termite mound is made of, where the polar bear cubs were born, what the beaver uses to make his home and which animal does't build a home and sleep in a different place each night etc. The peep through holes are various shapes, like a round tractor wheel, an oval bird's nest, tree hollow, round flower, beehive, bushes, corals and fish. The colours are really vivid making the book bright and colourful. The illustrator, Simona Dimitri, has a very sweet, cheerful and colourful style, that is bound to enchant children.There are two to five sentences per page, simple enough to keep my 2-year-old's attention. The information in this book is just a simple description but, together with the illustrations and flaps, it is a good introduction to the topic of animal homes. I think it's suitable for older babies to 6-year-olds, with the lower age range being more interested in flaps and pictures and the older kids absorbing the information as well (my 5-year-old daughter loves reading it as much as the 2-year-old). I like reading it to them myself (found out a couple of things I didn't know ;-)) and it joined my favourites beside "Peep Inside Night-Time" (looking forward to the new release!). Any little one will be delighted to read it, if only for the animal content.It is a beautifully published board book, the format a bit shorter and slightly broader than A5 size. The cover is thicker than the rest of the pages. The flaps are sturdy and it should survive many returns.I would whole-heartedly recommend this book. Usborne haven't dissapointed and I'm happy that there are some more coming in this series.

My 22 month old son loves this book. He loves lifting the flaps and seeing which animal is in there! As he gets older I’m sure he’ll appreciate the facts. Very well written and well designed.

I don't know who loves these 'peep inside' books more, me or my 15 month old daughter! Great for taking out and about to keep her entertained. Easy enough to wipe down too. All round beautiful books!

A beautiful book, great illustration and flow with lift the flap, a balance of common and new animals for my 16 month old, and words to read when he is older so I expect this book to last in both quality and appeal. Would definitely recommend.

My kid loved this book. He loves looking at the animals, saying their names. I feel he is really learning.I wish there were more 'secret tabs' - but it has kept him amused.

my 16 months old daughter loves this book. She is still a bit young for a proper story but loves to look for the animals and hidden things. The quality of the book is Great and the book will also be perfect for when she is older

Bought as a gift for a friend's daughter. Lovely book with lots of brightly coloured images. Good quality and sturdy.

This range of books is my kids favourite. They are educational, contain intresting information not overused stuff like most books and very colourful. There is loads of flaps which makes it very interactive.