Starred Review French writer and illustrator Coat adds another winner to her series of clever concept books for toddlers (Hippoposites, 2012; Rhymoceros, 2015). Here she presents homophones, as demonstrated by a deadpan, kelly green llama. On every page, the llama appears as a cookie-cutter-style graphic against a white backdrop, which is then modified to reflect the meaning of a single vocabulary word. For instance, one spread pairs blew on the left-hand page (dandelion puffs swirl around the llama's head) with blue on the right u guessed it, the llama is now a lovely cerulean. Another spread shows one llama with sparkly wings (fairy) and the other on a boat (ferry). Tactile elements are added to many pages, ramping up sensory engagement for little ones. Tots won't be bored with this sturdily constructed and brilliantly simple board book.

What's this we "See / Sea"? It's a trendy llama, here to introduce witty pairs of homophones with humor, tactile elements, and a whole lotta flare—erm, flair.How can a flat green silhouette of a llama be so darned hilarious? Drawn with distinctive perked ears, black dotted eyes, and rectangular body with rounded corners, face deadpan, it's the very essence of llama. Llama's hijinks graphically differentiate between the homophones, making them easy to define, such as silvery embossed hoof "prints" trailing behind it on one page and a regally clad "prince" on the other. Coat adds pizzazz as well as contextual clues through a surprising variety of touch-and-feel pieces, among them moving hands on an analog clock marking time on "wait" or a "peek"-aboo baby llama under a lift-the-flap blanket. If it sounds gimmicky, fear not; the book revels in hyperbole. Whether it's a llama biting a pink "rose," tango-style, or an emotionless "fairy" with textured, glittery wings, the contrast of flamboyant effects to solemn llamas is audaciously funny. There is a mismatch between format and concept here; homophones are abstract and better suited to older readers than the tot set. Still, there's a scarcity of quality books about homophones, and the sophisticated humor should beguile big kids. Oversized trim also suits that older audience.These captivating llamas deliver. Readers won't be bored by this board book! (Board book. 5-8)

What's this we "See / Sea"? It's a trendy llama, here to introduce witty pairs of homophones with humor, tactile elements, and a whole lotta flare—erm, flair.How can a flat green silhouette of a llama be so darned hilarious? Drawn with distinctive perked ears, black dotted eyes, and rectangular body with rounded corners, face deadpan, it's the very essence of llama. Llama's hijinks graphically differentiate between the homophones, making them easy to define, such as silvery embossed hoof "prints" trailing behind it on one page and a regally clad "prince" on the other. Coat adds pizzazz as well as contextual clues through a surprising variety of touch-and-feel pieces, among them moving hands on an analog clock marking time on "wait" or a "peek"-aboo baby llama under a lift-the-flap blanket. If it sounds gimmicky, fear not; the book revels in hyperbole. Whether it's a llama biting a pink "rose," tango-style, or an emotionless "fairy" with textured, glittery wings, the contrast of flamboyant effects to solemn llamas is audaciously funny. There is a mismatch between format and concept here; homophones are abstract and better suited to older readers than the tot set. Still, there's a scarcity of quality books about homophones, and the sophisticated humor should beguile big kids. Oversized trim also suits that older audience.These captivating llamas deliver. Readers won't be bored by this board book! (Board book. 5-8)

Coat follows up Rhymoceros and Hippopposites with another chunky board book focused on wordplay. This time, the subject is homophones, and Coat casts a blocky green llama in simple scenes to visually express the meanings behind each word presented. Homophone pairs appear opposite one another in each spread. For rose, the llama holds a pink flower in its mouth. In the facing image, the llama is patterned with tactile -rows- of stripes. For fairy and ferry, the llama first wears glittery fairy wings; in the second scene, the llama stands on the bow of passenger ferry boat. For the homophones peak and peek, the llama stands atop a jagged mountaintop; in the other image, the llama is blanketed with a flap, which readers can lift to -peek- at a baby llama underneath. The impact of grasping the meaning behind each picture acts as a veritable tickle to the brain, while the board book-s sizable format lends it gratifying heft. Ages 2-4. (Mar.)