Tana Hoban

Tana Hoban (1917-2006) was an American photographer and children's author who created over 50 photo-concept books designed to help young children learn about shapes, colors, numbers, and everyday objects. Her distinctive black-and-white and color photography books were groundbreaking in early childhood education, using real-world images rather than illustrations to teach basic concepts. Works like "Shapes and Things" (1970) and "Count and See" (1972) became standards in schools and libraries. Before her career in children's books, Hoban worked as a commercial photographer in Philadelphia and New York, with her work appearing in magazines like Life and McCall's. She began creating children's books in the 1970s after observing how young children responded to photographs. Hoban's books received numerous awards, including a Bronx Council on the Arts Award and the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota. Her work influenced generations of children's book creators and early childhood educators through her innovative approach to visual learning.

Parents and educators praise Hoban's photo books for helping young children learn to observe and identify objects, shapes, and concepts in their environment. Reviews highlight how the clear, real-world photographs engage babies and toddlers more effectively than illustrations. Readers appreciated: - High-contrast images that capture infant attention - Durability of board book formats - Simple, focused presentation without distracting text - Photos that prompt discussion between adults and children - Cross-cultural appeal and accessibility Common criticisms: - Some photos appear dated - Limited text may not maintain interest of older children - Higher price point compared to illustrated books - Some board book editions show wear quickly Ratings across platforms: Amazon: Average 4.5/5 across titles Goodreads: 3.8/5 overall author rating "My toddler returns to these books daily to point and name objects," notes one Amazon reviewer. A children's librarian writes: "The photographs respect children's intelligence while building vocabulary through real-world connections."

26 Letters and 99 Cents - A visual introduction to the alphabet and American currency through photographs of everyday objects and money.

Exactly the Opposite - Photographic pairs illustrating opposite concepts such as open/closed, big/small, and up/down.

Count and See - A counting book using real-life photographs of objects from one to one hundred.

Shapes, Shapes, Shapes - Photographs of everyday objects and scenes that highlight different geometric shapes in the world.

Is It Red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue? - An exploration of primary colors through photographs of common objects.

Look! Look! Look! - Close-up photographs of familiar objects shown from unusual angles for visual discovery.

Push, Pull, Empty, Full - Photographic demonstrations of basic action words and concepts.

Where Is It? - A photographic seek-and-find book focusing on spatial relationships and object placement.

What Is That? - Black and white photographs of partial objects that reveal their complete forms when pages are turned.

Take Another Look - A visual puzzle book using photographic details that expand to show complete images.

Lois Ehlert creates picture books featuring cut-paper collage art and bold geometric shapes. Her works focus on nature, colors, and everyday objects similar to Hoban's photographic style.

Margaret Miller photographs real objects and children in clear compositions against simple backgrounds. Her books help young readers identify and name items in their world through photographs.

Marthe Jocelyn designs books using photography and collage to explore shapes, patterns, and concepts. She combines found objects and photographic elements to create visual experiences for young readers.

Nina Crews photographs urban scenes and children in real-world settings to tell stories. Her photographic picture books capture daily life and experiences through a documentary lens.

Nic Bishop specializes in photographic nonfiction books about animals and nature. His close-up photography technique reveals details of subjects in ways that connect to Hoban's observational approach.