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At my most recent writer’s meeting, someone mentioned a children’s book that allowed you to see additional pictures on a page by shining a flashlight through the back of the page. I had never seen that before, so I had to find the book for myself.
Since my writer’s meeting takes place at a library, I searched for the book before I left. The specific book that was mentioned was not at my library; however, I was pleased to discover there is an entire series of this type of book.
It is called “A Shine-A-Light Book” series. Have you seen these books before?
If not, I encourage you to check them out with the little ones in your life (or for yourself if you are like me and just want to see them). Not only do they provide interactive entertainment by finding the hidden picture(s) on each page, but they are also educational.
Here is a sample from Secrets of the Seashore by Carron Brown & Alyssa Nassner, which was published by Kane Miller (2014). The text on the page explains what a tide pool is and then asks a question to the reader.
Illustration from Secrets of the Seashore by Carron Brown & Alyssa Nassner (Kane Miller, 2014)
When the reader shines a light through the page, they discover creatures in the tide pool. The next page explains what is found.
Illustration from Secrets of the Seashore by Carron Brown & Alyssa Nassner (Kane Miller, 2014)
Isn’t that fun? I love it! Below I have listed five books that are part of the A Shine-A-Light Book series for you to check out on your own.
A Shine-A-Light Book Series
Secrets of Winter by Carron Brown & Georgina Tee
Find a wood frog, hare, grouse, bumblebee, tiny snails, and more as you learn about animals in the winter. The last pages include additional information about changing colors, falling leaves, hibernation, nocturnal animals, food stores, animal shelters, snowshoes, and how animals can still eat during the winter.
Secrets of the Rainforest by Carron Brown & Alyssa Nassner
Find a butterfly, spider monkey, tree frog, snake, sloth, and more as you learn about animals and plants that live in the rainforest. The last pages include additional information about the levels of the rainforest such as the upper canopy and lower levels, roots, river animals, pitcher plants, and more.
Secrets of the Seashore by Carron Brown & Alyssa Nassner
Find mussels, barnacles, sea anemones, shrimp, and more as you learn about animals that live in or near the sea. The last pages include additional information about clams burrowing in sand, whelks, crabs, gulls, sea otters, fish trapped in tide pools, seaweed, octopuses, and filtering water.
Secrets of the Vegetable Garden by Carron Brown & Giordano Poloni
Find a scarecrow, the necessities of a plant, and more as you learn about plants and animals in or near a vegetable garden. The last pages include additional information about seeds, the parts of a plant (roots, stem, and leaf), flowers, nectar, pollen, and fruit.
Secrets of the Apple Tree by Carron Brown & Alyssa Nassner
Find worms, leaves, a lizard, rabbits, a moth, and more as you learn about what can be found in, around, and under an apple tree. The last pages include additional information about what is in the soil, what may be found in leaves, who may hide in cracks, burrowers, hidden colors, spiders, birds, bumblebees, and squirrel dens.
Which one is your favorite?
For more book ideas, check out the following posts:
- 14 Children’s Books About Flowers
- 14 Children’s Books About Seeds, Plants, and Gardening
- 10 Cookbooks for Kids
- 25+ Books About Owls
- 25 Books About Grandparents
- 8 Batty Books
Brigitte Brulz 