Sandra Boynton offers a fun way to teach your little one how to recognize colors and put on articles of clothing. The drawings are simple and use bright primary colors to clearly show the object described, such as a "Blue hat" and "Green pants." This helps children to begin making associations between sounds or words, and the object or color. There is also consistency with the four animals used to demonstrate the colors and how to properly wear each piece of clothing. The turkey regularly wearing the clothing incorrectly adds humor and helps teach your child what not to do; Oops! Your pants don't belong on your head!
The thick pages allow your child to grasp them and help you turn them, or just hold the book with you while you read. Each page is set up so you can point and identify each animal, color, and article of clothing. Heavy repetition with the colors and items will encourage your child to try repeating your words, or point at the pictures with you.
When my 18 month old friend Dano and I read "Blue Hat, Green Hat," we stop after each page and I ask him where the article of clothing belongs. He pats is head for the hat, and his tummy for the shirt. The repetition has helped him associate the pictures of clothing with where it belongs on him. Our favorite part is still when the turkey makes a mistake and we exclaim 'oops!' together. That always makes him giggle.
--Audra