We’ve recently received some new picture books here that are quite unlike any others that we’ve read, titles from the Shine-A-Light series, by Carron Brown…
Secrets of Winter: Discover nature’s wintertime secrets and meet the animals and plants that live in and around a snow-covered forest, from the bears in their lairs and the foxes in their earths to the squirrels and birds in the treetops.
Secrets of the Seashore: Spot the tiny shrimps hiding in the sand, see a shy crab underneath a rock and watch a jewel-like anemone open its tentacles in this gorgeously illustrated book of nature’s hidden habitats. Just hold the page up to the light to discover the creatures that live around the ocean’s edge.
Secrets of the Rainforest: Discover the animals and plants that live in and around a kapok tree, from the colourful parrots in the canopy to the sleek jaguar on the forest floor.
On the Construction Site: Watch a skyscraper spring up with this beautifully illustrated interactive book! By simply holding the book up to the light, or shining a light behind each page, young readers will be able to discover how large buildings are constructed, who builds them, and all about the amazing machines they use in the process.
As well as being informative and beautifully illustrated, the Shine A Light series, encourage you to hold the pages up to the light to reveal hidden illustrations on each page.
Both Boo and Little Man really enjoy these books. They’ve had two each, and they often request these at bedtime. They are so different, and packed full of facts, too. We’ve learned so much together about each of the habitats and the construction site, and it’s all been told in a very engaging way.
Then having to use a torch for a story is always going to make it exciting, I think! You read each page and then when prompted, shine a light underneath it to reveal the hidden elements of the picture. It’s a great concept and so well designed.
We love these books and I think they span a wide age range, too, as they are equally appealing to both of my kids, at just turned 3 and coming up to 6. Boo is able to read them herself, so I will often find her doing so.
This is the second series of books that we have received from Ivy Press, as they also sent us the brilliant 30 Seconds Kids Books. As with those books, the Shine-a-Light series definitely gets a big thumbs up from us.
I do have a set of these books to give away now, too, the same four as pictured here. To be entered into the draw, use the rafflecopter below. It’s open to UK entrants only, and closes at 12am 6th October 2015. Good luck!
What do you like about these books?
Disclosure: We received the books FOC for the purposes of this review, though as ever, all words and opinions remain my own
my kids woud love that you had to hold them to the light to get secret bits!
I love the idea of having to use a torch with a book. Although I don’t think I’d get the torch of my LO.
My son would love the construction site book as obsessed with diggers and my grandson would like the pictures in the Secrets of the Rainforest
I like their appealing contents and their illustrations. My four children would all be interested in these books.
My son would love these!! What a fabulous idea!
They add an extra dimension to just a normal book – perhaps encouraging reluctant readers?
look good, sure grand-kids would enjoy them
Anything that would encourage my grandson to enjoy books has to be welcomed!
I love the illustrations and topics my kids would relate to x
Using a torch is a great idea, reminds me of when I was younger and used to read under the duvet with a torch when I was supposed to be sleeping.
The illustrations are beautiful
Great review. We’re always looking for good new books so we’ll have to check them out. Thanks for sharing.
My niece loves books and I’m sure she would love these too when she’s a bit older.
They are a fabulous idea x
i love the fact you have secret parts you need a torch for
Great topics, all of which children love. Whilst the uniqueness of the Shine A Light aspect is quite exciting.
I love that they are interactive – perfect for my nephew! xx
They look really fun!
They look great fun as well as being educational.
Using the torch would appeal to my son – we read books mostly at bedtime with a little light on so this would work just right.
That’s such a cool idea! I love the illustration style too.
They look nice and big and easy to look at
I love that you have to hold them up to the light
They look magical and full of facts
I think the illustrations are very beautiful
What a wonderful idea holding to the light really great for keeping children engaged my nephew would love this ???
Shining a light to find extra interesting things is quirky and exciting. The children would love it.
I like the idea of the hidden pictures. It makes me think of checking money for watermarks.
I love these books, they look informative and fun!
I love the illustrations, 🙂
They are a really good idea my son would love these
I think these books are wonderful. Bear would love to play with a torch while I read the books.
Think my son would love these he loves discovering new things
My children will love the surprise element 🙂
theese books lokke beautifully illustrated and entertaining
they look fun xx
My little one would love the fact that if he shines a torch on the pages he gets to see hidden things
I like that it brings a new interest to reading.
These are so clever
My duaghters really into secret ,essages and clubs at the moment, shed love these! x
The illustrations look beautiful and add to the story
The illustrations are beautiful x
I like how different they are and the pictures look great
The fact that they are full of facts
educational and fun
Great idea – something a bit different to keep them interested
My two youngest sons would love these. They look colourful and fun to read.
love you have to use a torch to see secret bits my eldest would love it x
it makes reading interesting, my daughter loves to read, she would love these.
I love that there are hidden bits.
these look really good for winter evenings xx
Using a torch is a great idea adds another level to the books
I love how this range will easily appeal to so many different age ranges. My 22 month old toddler would equally enjoy them just as much as my 7 year old nephew and that’s brilliant! The story and illustrations would keep my toddlers interest and the secret hidden parts would really excite my nephew! Fantastic!
the illustrations are so nice
I like that the pictures would make the kids really interested.
I Love the idea of shinning the torch as well as them bieng full of facts and bieng about animals
Great presents and educational as well. My daughter will love these
I think children will love this,having to shine a torch to reveal the hidden pictures,it’s something different from any other books that I have.I love reading to my grandchildren,there’s nothing nicer than having a sleepy little person cuddle in on your knee reading them a story.It’s one of the best gifts you can give a child,the love of books
I like that these books would have my son really interested in them
I know my girls would really engage with these books x the magic of them is beautiful x
I love educational books and think my kids would really enjoy these.
It’s such a unique idea!! It would make getting into bed so much more fun
My daughter loves animals and lights so these combined make the perfect books! 🙂
great pictures and love the extra touch of using a torch for secret bits
i know that muy grandaughter would love them x
I like that they are informative and beautifully illustrated just what is needed to capture a childs imagination
I love the element of surprise with these books. My 5 year old daughter is struggling to read but I think these books would really engage her and hopefully show her how exciting books can be!
Love the novel of idea of discovering things using light in these books.
Love the illustrations and the titles, especially the construction one, my son loves construction sites.
Love the idea that the illustrations can be held up to the light!
I lvoe the pictures and the way the books make your child think about things 🙂
I love the torch concept – so original and so much fun 🙂
using a torch to get light to reveal things 🙂
as they look so entertaining and my son would love these x
Fun way of learning for grandchildren (and myself)
These are lovely books well written with some fantastic pictures, which is very appealing to a child who’s learning to read. Will look out for these now for my son who’s 7. He’s really struggling to grasp it at the minute
I like them because it is such a fun concept, using a torch to find extras.
I like the illustrations they look really engaging
love the uniqueness about them
Lots of photos of animals for a pet mad family.
The ilustrations look just beautiful
The images look fantastic
They are fun yet educational
The illustrations are fantastic
They look really interesting and magical 🙂
These books are such a great idea! I have just made a snuggle reading corner with a teepee style text over it and these books would be such a great addition, especially because of the torches!
the illustrations look good
I like how the text is set out, it would be easy for my daughter to read
They’re colourful, informative and appealing
They look great – my grandson would love these
What a brilliant set of books, my granddaughter would love these
Beautiful illustrations and things for the children to interact with in the story.
I love the illustrations they look really engaging
I love the illustrations, they are beautiful 🙂
I like the hidden illustrations, what a great idea and one my kids will enjoy
using a torch to see hidden bits
These would help to motivate my little man to read for himself
The illustrations look beautiful!!
I love that they are colourful and are illustrated. They are also educational and look fun to read. (@PeanutHog)
I love the mystery for children shining the light to see whats underneath to set their imaginations off!
The wonderful illustrations
I love that this books are completly different than any book I have ever seen before. It has to be fun!
Love the idea of shining the torch to find something hidden
I love the interaction with these books
I love how interactive they are.
Lovely big pictures and involves input from the children
Having to shine a light to get the secret hints – fantastic idea!!
Beautiful pictures!
I love the amazing illustrations
ive never seen anything like it. what a fun way to read
I love the fact they are interactive – using a torch or lifting the page to the light to find hidden illustrations will deffo keep kids interested and the pictures look lovely too
They are exciting and different for children
The hidden illustrations
Love the pictures
they would appeal to all my kids 🙂
The interactive element – that always appeals to my little boy rather than just being read to passively.
I love the graphics and the torch part! My two would love them!
The torch with the books 🙂
I like that they are fun, with the torch shining, but informative too.
They can engage little ones a lot more what a fab idea ! Fab giveaway!
so colourful
I love all the pictures and how colourful they are. I also like the fact they a great for girls and boys 🙂
love the The illustrations 🙂 x
Personally, I really love the illustrations, but the novelty of the light shining task will intrigue all my grand-children no end!
educational and fun
I have seen an ad recently saying a App can never replace your lap…read to your children. I really couldn’t agree more. Reading to your child benefits them so much with use of language, a stronger bond with the reader, a head start at school…the list is endless.So many children now start school not knowing how to hold a book and turn the pages…….hard to believe but true. These books look amazing so informative, lovely pictures and the added surprise when held up to the light. Simply beautiful
The illustrations are gorgeous
I love the quirkiness – they are educational, but the light element is such a fun twist, and makes them much more engaging too imo. Such a simple yet brilliant idea!
My grandchildren would love these books as there is plenty on each page for them to look at
I love that there are hidden illustrations.
They’re educational and fun x