Two new concept books appear in the My First Canadian series, which introduces toddlers to language. These full-colour photographic board books are attractive, sturdy, and just the right size for tiny hands. A cast of engaging multicultural children graces the pages of each title, giving them a wide audience and appeal. Each photographed concept is clearly labelled with extended explanations – for example, in Opposites, to illustrate the concept of up and down, we see a photo of little legs wearing socks and the words “sock pulled up” and “sock pushed down.” Bodies covers not only surface anatomy, but also the five senses and the daily activities and capabilities common to most toddlers. Concluding each title is a matching game that challenges visual acuity and memory. The overall impression in both books is of busy colourful pages with lots of visual detail and opportunities to increase vocabulary.

Despite the generally high level of appeal and utility of these books there are a few problems. The titles My First Canadian: Bodies and My First Canadian: Opposites are misleading since opposites and bodies are no different in Canada than anywhere else. Although the books are available in both French and English, the opposites aren’t presented in a distinctly Canadian fashion, using geography (Rocky Mountains vs. flat prairie) or traditional Canadian imagery (beaver above the lodge vs. beaver below the lodge). Also, these books do not show the bold outlines and visual contrasts necessary to stimulate the eyes and brains of young babies, and the amount of activity on each page might be overwhelming for children under two years. The children in the photos appear to be at least 18 months, which is the youngest age at which I’d introduce this series. These worthy books will find their most appropriate audience with two- to four-year-olds.