Things that go

PreS-K--Cheerful spreads might show objects out of context--sailboat, submarine, speedboat--under the heading "On the Water," and then the opposite page shows merry animal friends using those boats, in this case. Sliding panels reveal aspects or words about what readers see: the "splash" of the speedboat, or the submarine submerged. Other pages have straight questions and answers. VERDICT Energetic point and play, this book will entertain lap sitters and give them early training in vocabulary.

Help young readers fill in the blank! Aimed at introducing little ones to some new vocabulary, this slide-tab board book focuses on three areas: vehicles on the road, in the air, and on the water. The vocabulary ranges from the simple (car, bus, truck) to less common early reach words (submarine, speedboat). The pages that feature the various modes of transportation (all operated by cheery anthropomorphic animals) include a sliding tab that moves vehicles or makes them appear--these are sure to appeal to little ones. The alternate pages each include a three-question quiz that may spark conversation, although some responses may vary from the written answers. For example, the prompt "A car's horn goes" is answered by the word beep in the book, but honk is also correct. Similarly, the prompt "The sailor is looking at the" is completed with the word lighthouse, but the sailor may also be looking at the two whales splashing in the distance. Although the book is made of sturdy board, the tabs may not prove robust enough for long-term enjoyment from boisterous readers. A broken tab won't significantly affect a reader's experience, but it may take away from a bit of the fun. Cute and amusing but may not have a long shelf life. (Board book. 1-3) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.