Tickle, Tickle

Babies engage in tickling play in this board book from acclaimed children's author-illustrator Helen Oxenbury. The simple text consists of just two repeated words. The illustrations depict multicultural toddlers participating in everyday activities and interactions. Oxenbury's signature watercolor style brings warmth to each scene. This spare but effective book celebrates physical play and early bonding between caregivers and young children. The repetitive elements and interactive nature make it an ideal choice for babies and toddlers learning about social connections.

Parents report this board book engages babies and toddlers through its simple depiction of children laughing and playing. The brief text and expressive illustrations hold young children's attention during repeated readings. Readers liked: - Durability for rough handling by babies - Realistic diverse characters - Clear, uncluttered illustrations - Short length perfect for bedtime - Relatable situations that babies recognize Readers disliked: - Very basic/minimal text - Small size (some wanted larger format) - Higher price point for length Ratings: Goodreads: 4.05/5 (346 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (243 ratings) Parent review: "My 9-month-old giggles every time we read this. The pictures show real emotions that she connects with." Teacher review: "Used this in my infant classroom for years. The babies love seeing other babies and the simple scenes keep them engaged."

Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt This touch-and-feel book lets babies interact with different textures and materials through simple activities.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox The repetitive text follows babies from different places who share the common trait of fingers and toes to count.

Peek-a-Who? by Nina Laden Die-cut pages create a peek-through game that introduces animals and their sounds to young children.

Where Is Baby's Belly Button? by Karen Katz Lift-the-flap elements help children locate and name their body parts.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes by Annie Kubler This board book version of the classic action song enables babies to participate in movement while learning body parts.

🌟 Helen Oxenbury has illustrated more than 100 children's books and won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal twice 🌟 The simple, everyday moments depicted in "Tickle, Tickle" help babies develop emotional connections and learn to recognize facial expressions 🌟 The board book format used for "Tickle, Tickle" was revolutionary when first introduced in the 1970s, making books more accessible to very young children 🌟 Babies begin responding to tickling between 2-4 months of age, making tickle games one of the earliest forms of social play 🌟 Helen Oxenbury's baby board books, including "Tickle, Tickle," were inspired by observing her own children and their daily activities