UNDERWATER, by Xavier Deneux, Chronicle Books, March 25, 2025, Board Book, $16.99 (ages 2-4)
Learn about the creatures who swim in the sea in Underwater, the 17th book in Xavier Deneux’s TouchTHinkLearn series.
To touch is to experience. To experience is to learn.
The popular TouchThinkLearn series, with over 1,000,000 copies sold, combines scooped-out die-cuts with raised, shaped elements, designed to offer the youngest learners an irresistible opportunity to explore their universe in a hands-on, multisensory way.
TouchThinkLearn: Underwater is a chunky board book that fully involves little ones by engaging them in exploring marine life in several ways: seeing the image, tracing its shape, saying its name. These modes of perception combine to stimulate understanding of essential concepts. Related words on each spread offer parents and children a springboard for further conversation to encourage the language skills crucial to later successful learning. —Synopsis provided by Chronicle Books
Underwater is very much a concept book. Each creature is named and a list of related words, including italicized action words, is included below. For example:
whale: eyes • flippers • flukes • tail • huge • diving • feeding
This is a great way to introduce a broader understanding of concepts and build vocabulary. Little ones will be drawn to the almost 3D images that are both raised and recessed. At $16.99, it’s one of the pricier board books, but it’s chunky construction and strong concept will hold up to heavy use. It’s bound to become a favorite of both parents and kids.
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