Love, Happy, Together: Emma Dodd

I'm giving a shout-out to all things Emma Dodd. Publisher Nosy Crow loves her, as do we, and they invest in her creations with high production quality. Each of her books is a joy to hold and share with readertotz. In Love, Happy, and Together, in perfect rhyme, the parent assures that in every circumstance the child is beloved. With each reading, you will be doing the same.

Find Emma Dodd and build your own library. The added foil embellishments echo the respect that should be given to love and first readers. (Look for Forever and Wish, as well.)

Love
Happy
Together
by Emma Dodd
Nosy Crow

Poetry Friday: Emma Dodd

Here are two illustrated poems in a small format to celebrate Poetry Friday. Emma Dodd's digital illustrations and heartfelt text are to be treasured. (Note the above pink sun is actually gold foil.)

When I Grow Up

When I grow up,
   I want to be...
clever and funny,
   wild and free.


When You Were Born

When you were born,
the rain stopped...
    the sun came out,
and the sky turned blue.

When you were born,
the snow melted...
    the birds sang,
and the flowers grew.


When I Grow Up
When You Were Born
by Emma Dodd
Templar Books, 2015

Poetry Friday: Everything, by Emma Dodd

Emma Dodd is one of my favorite authors writing for our youngest readers. Here's a verse from Everything. Sensitive, endearing illustrations are accented with gold foil beautifully. Happy Poetry Friday!

"I love you when you're in a muddle.
Your tears tell me you
need a cuddle."

Everything
by Emma Dodd
Templar Books, 2015

Poetry Friday: Forever, by Emma Dodd

A keeper for always, no matter the age of your totz!

"If you're ever feeling scared,
I'll be right beside you.
If you're ever feeling lost,
know that I will find you."

Images were created digitally, but there's a definite freshness due to the jagged line. Templar Books has added a silver foil on the cover and throughout, for snow and ice. This is a perfect book. Happy Poetry Friday!

Forever
Emma Dodd
Templar Books, 2013

Baby and Me: Emma Dodd

I'm a huge fan of Nosy Crow. They repeatedly hit the mark for totz. Check out Baby and Me, written and illustrated by Emma Dodd. The interactive book is fun with thick pull tabs, cloth diaper strips, and even a blanket for the girl to wrap her baby doll inside.

The soft colors and varied black outline are pleasing to carry the simple text.

"This is me.
And this...
is my baby doll."

Of course all the activity is leading up to the child's welcome and able assistance for the new baby in the family. So clever! Enjoy Baby and Me! It may be just the book you need to introduce your happy news to your totz.

Baby and Me
by Emma Dodd
Nosy Crow, 2013

Emma Dodd: I Am Small

I really enjoyed this book! It's board book size and will fit nicely in small hands, but the interior pages are sturdy paper rather than actual board. Told from the perspective of a baby penguin, the simple text captures a true totz voice in describing the bigness of the world compared to a totz' small size. The illustrations are white, black, and dusky blue, with hints of silver foil. The antics of baby penguin are cute as he frolics in beautifully quiet, wintry scenes, along with much bigger adults.


The world is big and I am small.

The sky is high, the ocean deep, and the mountains steep, but baby penguin knows how big he is in the hearts of his parents. The ending definitely has the "oh, how sweet!" factor!

Emma Dodd is the creator of the Dot and Dash board book series, and lives in Surrey England.


I Am Small
Author-illustrator: Emma Dodd
Scholastic, Cartwheel Books, September 2011

Dot and Dash Meet Their Friends: Emma Dodd

At 9 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches, this is bigger than your average board book. It has sturdy pages, bright colors, and flaps of varying sizes and shapes to find and lift. Dot is a spotted dog and Dash is a striped cat. The other characters in this particular book in the Dot and Dash series, are cleverly named Big (an elephant), Small (a mouse), and Tall (a giraffe). It begins:

Dot and Dash are ready to play.
"Small!" they call. "Are you ready to play?"

They open a small flap, but no one's home.
On the next spread, they open a 'tall' flap and are greeted by a giraffe.

I like the fact that this book teaches size-relation concepts within a simple story. Totz will be willingly pulled through this simple mystery story, which is perfect for this age. Where, oh where, is Small?

The Dot and Dash page at Scholastic's UK site offers printable coloring pages and a list of Dot and Dash books. Watch for the release of Dot and Dash in the US in May!

Dot and Dash Meet Their Friends, May, 2010
Author-illustrator: Emma Dodd
Scholastic