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What's Next Door?
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The crocodile from Open Very Carefully is back, and he's not happy. All he wants to do is find his way home, but he can't get there by himself -- he needs your help! In this unique interactive book, children are encouraged to take part in the story and use their imaginations to guide him door-to-door on his journey. Will he ever find his way home?
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This is pretty cute. Firstly, I'm secretly a HUGE fan of cute crocodiles and this picture book delivered! It also played on my love of magical doors and I'm slightly disappointed that there wasn't a Narnia like scene. Boo. It was just super cute and fun and would be awesome to ask kids questions along the way too.
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I enjoyed this book and while it didn't have the surprise factor of "Open this Book Very Carefully" (or even "Press Here," it was still fun and I think that kids will enjoy it very much. I like that we learned Carter's name and the little added extra of the different animals following him through the book.
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In this interactive book, Carter the crocodile needs help finding his way home. Children trace shapes (circle, square and rectangle) as doors for Carter to exit out of, and the reader guesses what environment is on the other side of the door. The text instructs the child on things to perform in order to help Carter. Finally, the crocodile reaches home, but what about all these extra critters who came with him? They'll have to start their own adventure home.
The cutouts nicely illustrate the exiti ...more
The cutouts nicely illustrate the exiti ...more
This was definitely a different way to tell a story - it's almost like a first "Choose Your Own Adventure," except that the author / illustrator is guiding you along the path. Each page is a new scene, but the story didn't always flow the way I thought it should. It was sometimes clunky getting from what scene to the next. For example, when Carter the Crocodile was leaving the sea for the snow, I thought there should have been [at the very least] some ice of something showing that he had come fr
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Hard not to love a cute interactive picture book. The girls agree.
STAHP with the interactive books unless you have something new to add.
It didn't reach out to me. I felt a little lost reading it, so I have to consider whether a child will grasp it. I think they would, but I feel like it's a book that could be simplified.
That said, I loved the interaction! ...more
That said, I loved the interaction! ...more
O’Byrne, Nicola What’s Next Door? Step Inside and See! PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2017. $15,99. Content: G.
Carter the Crocodile is lost and needs help getting home. In this interactive book, children clap their hands, trace dotted lines, blow, turn the book upside down, wave their hands and much more all in hopes of finding the perfect home for Carter the Crocodile.
The colors are bright and inviting. The illustrations are imaginative. There are peek through pages that children will adore. ...more
Carter the Crocodile is lost and needs help getting home. In this interactive book, children clap their hands, trace dotted lines, blow, turn the book upside down, wave their hands and much more all in hopes of finding the perfect home for Carter the Crocodile.
The colors are bright and inviting. The illustrations are imaginative. There are peek through pages that children will adore. ...more
First-this is an interactive book. Children will be asked to blow on the book, pet characters, and draw multiple shapes on pages. For some larger groups, a book of that style will work. For other groups, this format will not work, and you may have to adapt and ask kids to pet their own bellies or draw shapes on the floor in front of them.
All that aside, this is a good book, and I think children will enjoy helping the slightly cranky croc get back home. I really like the little side characters t ...more
All that aside, this is a good book, and I think children will enjoy helping the slightly cranky croc get back home. I really like the little side characters t ...more
I read this book to my one year old niece, as you can imagine to gain the attention of a one year old almost seems impossible. This book not only captured her attention but also stimulated her to interact with the book, page after page. Nicola O'Byrne has essentially created an interactive adventure book. She has done an excellent job in creative an element of surprise and allowing the children to think they are in control of the path the book will take.
This is great resource when working with ...more
This is great resource when working with ...more
This is an interactive book as you read the story and get Carter the alligator home. He needs a wet place and a door big enough to get there. Each child uses this book and the cut outs to get Carter to a home he will love. There are many ecosystems or habitats Carter is put into that don't work. Children will have a time drawing a door, shaking out snow, and getting Carter back to the swamp he lives in. And then they will need to work on getting the other characters to their homes.
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Really cool story that is designed to engage children and make them imagine what's behind doors. The structure could be improved as the story ends facing another door and we are let to imagine what's behind it. So, there is no satisfying ending, but an open-ended one, which works at some level. Nice teaching PB. I can definitely see that used in a school, in a library, or homeschooling group as a discussion starter.
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This is one of my favorite children's books simply because it is so interactive! Without giving spoilers, the book involves the readers in a series of tasks to get a certain creature home. My three-year-old and his cousin were entranced by this book. I borrowed this from the library, but I may need to buy a family copy!
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This book is so clever and incredibly fun to read! It is an interactive book where children not only get to "physically" manipulate the book in order to advance the storyline, but there is such much room for great prediction making and even discussion about animal habitats. I love this kind of book that provides opportunities on so many levels to engage with the book and story.
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Participatory books are so much fun and What's Next Door? by Nicola O'Byrne fits the bill nicely. Turn on the lights for the crocodile by clapping your hands! Draw a door to help him get home. Wait! !hat's this? This isn't a good home for a crocodile! Children 3 - 8 will enjoy helping the croc find his way home in this unique picture book.
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I adore interactive books! This one follows Carter (the crocodile) through the pages of a book as the reader helps him out of some tight spots by drawing with their finger. This would be great for a small K-2nd storytime. It could be used with preschoolers as well, depending on the group!
This was such a fun read aloud for kindergarten. They loved being so interactive with this book. It would also be a marvelous lap book. It was a great read for environments and animal needs. So super, I'm going to get a copy!
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The illustrations and interactive aspects really bring this book together nicely, but the story is a little lackluster & abrupt; I'm still giving this 4 stars however, because of the creativity it would bring out in children and the previously mentioned visual charms.
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Readers are invited to help Carter the alligator/crocodile get back to where he belongs. Children will be encouraged to draw imaginary doors with their fingers, blow air and shake snow to move the story along. This will be a storytime hit. Highly recommended.
really enjoyed. Shapes, interactive, have the kids help you make new doors for the crocodile to go through. will be great for a zoom storytime. can pair with shape songs or opposites. or anything crocodile.
Great cutouts and fun for little fingers. Interactive in a lovely simple way
Unhappy crocodile is trying to find his way home. Colorful, engaging interactivity.
Such a fun book that uses children interaction and imagination. I was smiling all while I read it! I can't wait to show it to all my nieces and nephews!
Picture book. ...more
Picture book. ...more
A great new audience participation book. Glad to have it for class visits.
Would be fun, but nothing new.
Funny story and super interactive. Great choice for storytime!
Cool concept in this book.
A crocodile is looking for the perfect place and readers have to help it by drawing doors, etc.
I loved how interactive this book was! And the art is well done
A funny book that requires participation from readers on every page. A very interactive book that would be great for an elementary storytime.
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Nicola O’Byrne was banned from watching Saturday morning television by her parents and she has been drawing ever since. She grew up in Singapore surrounded by the vibrant colors of the tropics and had not even heard of illustration as a career before she discovered the Illustration course at Edinburgh College of Art. She has a masters in printmaking from Camberwell College of Art. Nicola O’Byrne g
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