Press Here by Herve Tullet
I saw the Press Here book at TLA and took a picture of it so that I wouldn’t forget to hunt down a copy.
Imagine my joy when it showed up in my mail box the next day (well, actually, a notice from the post office saying there was a package for me and that I owed postage for it showed up in my mail box. It had been sent to my apartment in Massachusetts and so they charged me to forward it on. But that’s more than you really care to know, isn’t it?).
Press Here is the cleverest kind of picture book, the kind that I wouldn’t have been able to resist showing to kids at my libraries last year and the book that would have had kids clamoring to check it out. It’s that fun.
Press Here by Herve Tullet
It operates under the illusion that your actions are causing the changes that happen on each page. That’s kind of hard to understand without an image. Let me show you what I mean. . .
Here’s one of the first pages:
So, of course, you press the yellow dot.
And then when you turn the page:
How delighted was I when the page turn made it seem as if my pressing the button had made the second button appear?
As the Press Here book goes on, you add more dots, change the colors, tip the book to make all the dots roll to one end of the page, clap your hands to make them get bigger, blow on the page to change the background colors, etc.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen such an interactive book. And it doesn’t have flaps that can be torn off or batteries that run out. I love that it doesn’t rely on any of those things to make it completely engaging.
It’s one of those books where you think, “How did I not come up with this brilliant, but basic concept for a book?”
Sometimes I think that adults are really in love with the idea of books as gifts and some kids are little less excited. Press Here by Herve Tullet, though, that I think even a reluctant reader would be thrilled by. It’s definitely one I plan to give as a gift over and over again.
Copy received from publisher
I love this book too! I saw Jen post about it on goodreads and decided I needed it for the library. What a great idea – an interactive book that actually requires no special bells or whistles.
Oh, it will be forever til the library gets this. I'd better start requesting it from Spokane's library system.
'It's one of those books where you think, "How did I not come up with this brilliant, but basic concept for a book?"'
-I totally agree with this and have thought that before. It's such a brilliantly simple idea that is just fun. It would be great to come up with the next great idea.
This sounds like such fun!! How old does a child have to be to enjoy it, do you think?
Take a look at his website: http://tullet.free.fr/
I wish we lived closer, I would just bring little Z over and share all these amazing stories times with you and Ella!!! I seriously covet your love for books… I don't have a single drop of passion like you do!!!
This would make a great read-aloud…I can just hear the whole class helping me clap for more yellow dots!
This is waiting for us at the library. I can't wait to see it.
After reading about it here I went and ordered this and had it sent to the grandkids for Easter! Thanks!
How fun is this? Raymond would LOVE love it. We have a book that tells him to do things (clap, touch his head, bounce etc.) and loves it! But I love that this one also starts to show the idea of cause and effect (even though, of course, we aren't REALLY causing the effects…)