Preschoolers love baby animals, and they love to move. Celebrate both with this Toddler Tough board book perfect for an active read-aloud!

Fawns leap, / Hatchlings bounce, / Porcupettes nibble, / Kittens pounce. Story time is on the move with this multilayered concept book. Preschoolers will enjoy learning fun baby animal names from baboon “infants” to kangaroo “joeys,” and they’ll revel in using their bodies to mimic the movements each animal makes. Bright photographs give a close-up look at every kitten, nestling, and foal, as well as young children who are pouncing, flapping, and racing alongside them. The rhyming text teaches young minds pattern recognition for language learning and reading readiness, and a closing spread of enriching, age-appropriate activities keeps the learning going.

A lively addition to the Big, Little Concepts series by author and children’s librarian Jane Whittingham, Animals Move will have everybody wiggling and giggling through story time.

“This book works in all the ways books for littles should work: engaging subject, pleasing presentation, gentle introduction of new vocabulary, lack of stereotyping, and strong construction for repeated reading and handling. There is a note to adults in the back offering several extension activities to get kids thinking and moving.”—Youth Services Book Review ★ Starred Review

Jane Whittingham is a librarian from Burnaby, British Columbia, and earned her Masters of Library and Information Sciences at UBC with an emphasis on children's librarianship and literature. Much like the adventurous main characters in her fiction picture books, Wild One, A Good Day for Ducks, and Queenie Quail Can’t Keep Up, Jane loves to explore. And much like the children photographed in her nonfiction picture book Animals Move, she loves a lively story time!

Jane Whittingham's profile page

• 2022 The Children’s Book Council “March: Hot Off the Press” feature

Praise for Animals Move

2023 CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards for Early Literacy Shortlist

2022 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens Selection

Fall 2023 CCBC Best Books for Kids and Teens Selection

2022 Cybils Award Board Book Finalist

2022 Toronto Public Library First and Best Selection

2023 Vancouver Public Library “Perfect Presents for Babies, Kids, and Teens” Selection

School Library Journal Fuse 8 “31 Days, 31 Lists: 2022 Great Board Books” Feature

2022 The Children’s Book Council “March: Hot Off the Press” feature

July 2022 Growing Book by Book “Baby/Toddler Book Pick of the Week”

“Photography! Baby animals! Now that’s the kind of board book I like to see…A good transitional book from board to picture book.”—School Library Journal, Fuse 8

★ STARRED REVIEW “This book works in all the ways books for littles should work: engaging subject, pleasing presentation, gentle introduction of new vocabulary, lack of stereotyping, and strong construction for repeated reading and handling. There is a note to adults in the back offering several extension activities to get kids thinking and moving.”—Youth Services Book Review

“One of the best things I found was the diverse background of the children featured. I love that it is inclusive. Final Verdict: This is a wonderful book that you could act out with your young child while reading.”—YA Books Central

“Animals Move is a perfect book for those youngsters who are transitioning from board books to regular picture books….A vocabulary builder and movement motivator, Animals Move belongs in home collections, day cares and public libraries.”—CM Magazine

“Aimed at toddlers and young preschoolers, this book will definitely get children up and moving. Each double-page spread features lively photographs of an animal performing a particular motion, alongside a separate photo of a small child imitating that action…”— Children’s Literature Review

“[T]he perfect way to get your littles wiggling. I love that the children portrayed are diverse & active & your littles will love the baby animals whose movements they can copy…that is, if you can get them past the awesome endpapers!”—Sherylbooks

“Author Jane Whittingham offers five ways to get your children to move and create at the end of this adorable book. The pictures of the kids are cute and the animals, equally.”—Book Time
“An adorable and durable book for young children, Animals Move by Jane Whittingham inspires little people to get up and move like their favourite animals.” — Storytime with Stephanie

“A warm, inviting picture book sure to entice babies and toddlers for repeated reading with its vibrant, sweet, inclusive photographs”—Fab Book Reviews

“If you’re looking for a book that’s sure to be an active story time favorite at home, in the classroom, or for library programs as well as a terrific take-along for spontaneous fun on walks, at the park, on picnics, and during other outings, you’ll want to add Animals Move to your book collection.”—Celebrate Picture Books

“5 of 5 stars…I love the photographs of kids next to baby animals!…A great book on the benefits of moving.”—Mrs. Book Dragon

“This delightful board book…will give little ones a burst of excitement to move and laugh…”—@wheretheboardbooksare