Busy Elephants: John Schindel and Martin Harvey

This 16 page board book is the 14th in the Busy Book collection. Busy Elephants shows elephants engaging in their everyday activities in their natural habitat. There aren't enough wildlife photography books like this for totz, so I'm happy to welcome this one onto my shelves. From a two-page spread:

Elephants splashing
Elephants dashing


The real-life photographs, action verbs, and rhyming text are a delight. Made of sturdy board and glossy photos, its , 7 x 5 inch size makes it perfect for small hands. It's a self-described "elephantastic romp" that I think totz will enjoy.

Busy Elephants
Author: John Schindel
Photographs: Martin Harvey 
Tricycle Press, 2011
$6.99

Busy Bunnies: John Schindel

Bunnies, bunnies, bunnies! This is an attractive board book with photographs of black ones, white ones, brown ones, gray ones, and spotted ones. Bunnies with long, floppy ears and bunnies with big fuzzy feet. What are these busy bunnies up to?

Bunny hopping

Bunny plopping

Bunnies bunching

Bunnies munching

I especially enjoyed the two cuddled black bunnies with the text:

Bunnies loving

Totz will enjoy this close-up look at this adorable, fuzzy, furry bunnies in a natural grassland environment. Photographs were a brilliant choice as illustrations for this one. Steven Holt is a widely published photographer specializing in wildlife subjects. John Schindel has written many similar "busy" books.

A perfect springtime book for totz and younger!

Busy Bunnies

by John Schindel

photography by Steven Holt

Tricycle Press, 2008

Busy Bear Cubs: John Schindel

Prepare to be absolutely charmed by these bear cubs, captured by Lisa and Mike Husar along with John Schindel's text. Short rhymes provide the context for the bears to hide, ride, turn, and learn.

Black bears, grizzlies, pandas, and polar bears are all featured. Each page features two actions and bears having tremendous fun.

Whether your totz love bears or enjoy imitating, this is a great addition to your library. And of course, it concludes with, "Bear cub sleeping". Perfect before a nap or bedtime. Note, this is the 11th book in the Tricycle Press Busy series. Yay!

Busy Bear Cubs
by John Schindel
illustrated by Lisa and Mike Husar
Tricycle Press, 2009

Busy Birdies by John Schindel

So, yes, I'm a bird lover and writing a novel with birds at the heart, but really, how can you not love Busy Birdies? John Schindel has brought a cute text to totz which is paired with Steven Holt's photo-illustrations.

Aside from the first single image spread, each page holds a double image of birds in action with a rhyming couplet.


Birdie bottoms have to bring a smile to all! And then there are:

Birdies eyeing
Birdies flying
Birdy stretching
Birdy stepping

The colors zing off the page in these gorgeous photos caught by Steven.

Tricycle Press is doing a fantastic job with their contributions to the board book industry. Bravo!

Twitter about Busy Birdies with your readertotz!

Busy Birdies
by John Schindel
illustrated by Steven Holt
Tricycle Press, 2010