📖 Overview
Press Here is an interactive picture book that transforms dots and simple shapes into a dynamic reading experience. The book consists of yellow, blue and red dots on plain white pages paired with straightforward instructions.
Each page provides a new directive for readers to follow - press, tilt, shake, or tap the book. The minimal artwork responds to these actions on subsequent pages, creating a cause-and-effect relationship between reader participation and visual changes.
Simple text and bold graphics merge into a game-like format that bridges traditional books with digital interactivity. The content relies on imagination and willing suspension of disbelief rather than electronic components or pop-up mechanisms.
This book demonstrates how basic elements can spark engagement and how readers help create meaning through active participation. It explores concepts of action/reaction while celebrating the enduring magic of physical books.
👀 Reviews
Parents and children report the book creates an engaging interactive experience through its simple dot-pressing instructions. Teachers note it helps develop listening skills and following directions.
Readers appreciate:
- Works without batteries or screens
- Appeals to ages 2-8
- Teaches cause and effect
- Encourages parent-child interaction
- Durability for repeated readings
- Works in group storytime settings
Common criticisms:
- Too basic/minimal for the price
- Some find it repetitive
- A few note it didn't hold their child's interest
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 4.4/5 (22,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.8/5 (9,800+ ratings)
Barnes & Noble: 4.8/5 (250+ ratings)
Sample review: "My toddler thinks he's making magic happen with each page turn. We've read it 100+ times and he still gets excited." - Amazon reviewer
Librarians frequently mention it as a top choice for storytimes, with one noting "Even the most fidgety kids stay engaged."
📚 Similar books
Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet
The reader taps, shakes, and tilts the book to create color combinations on the pages.
Don't Push the Button! by Bill Cotter A purple monster guides readers through a series of actions with an enticing red button.
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson Reader participation through tapping and touching transforms a bare tree through seasonal changes.
There's a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher Physical interaction with the book helps readers try to shake, spin, and wiggle a monster off the pages.
The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak The reader must speak nonsense words and phrases printed on pages without illustrations.
Don't Push the Button! by Bill Cotter A purple monster guides readers through a series of actions with an enticing red button.
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson Reader participation through tapping and touching transforms a bare tree through seasonal changes.
There's a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher Physical interaction with the book helps readers try to shake, spin, and wiggle a monster off the pages.
The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak The reader must speak nonsense words and phrases printed on pages without illustrations.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔵 First published in France under the title "Un Livre," Press Here became an international sensation, translated into over 35 languages
🔵 Author Hervé Tullet is known as "The Prince of Preschool" in his native France and has created more than 75 children's books
🔵 The book uses no batteries, apps, or digital technology, yet creates an interactive experience that mimics the feel of a touchscreen device
🔵 Each page's dots are hand-painted by Tullet, giving them a unique, artistic quality rather than using computer-generated perfect circles
🔵 The book has spawned several companion titles including Mix It Up! and Let's Play!, forming what many educators call "The Press Here Universe"