Big Silver Space Shuttle
Creatively interactive paper mechanics set this mini board book apart. A brightly colored and intricately detailed space shuttle prepares for liftoff, then shoots into space, leaving Earth's atmosphere and going into orbit. Along the way, it releases external fuel tanks and launches a weather satellite. Although the technical terminology and procedures may be well above a toddler's head, so to speak, most young readers won't mind, being all too absorbed in the complex flaps and tabs that make the rocket zoom. More power to the parents who can explain to their youngsters just what a "solid rocket booster" is, or how the "orbital maneuvering system" works.For kids who just can't get enough of books about vehicles, collect the rest of Ken Wilson-Max's interactive board books:Little Red Plane,Little Green Tow Truck, andBig Blue Engine. Beginning readers love getting right in there where the flapping, moving, pulling action is. But then, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.--Emilie Coulter