So Big!
Sesame Beginnings
Author: Anna Jane Hays
Illustrator: Christopher Moroney
Publisher: Random House
Target audience: 6-12 months
Format: Board book (12 pages)
'So Big!' is generally somewhere near the top of the short list of books that commonly get recommended between CVI-parents. Following my son's diagnosis, my frantic Googling led me straight to the purchase of this book, and nearly two years on it's still a firm favourite.
The images are clear, of a good size, and with totally plain backgrounds. There is plenty of bright red and yellow, as well as movement in the form of a large pop-out on the final page (which for some reason, my son finds endlessly hilarious).
Although it's targeted at 6-12 months, it has appeal much longer than that, and especially for children with complex needs. It's good for teaching body awareness, as Elmo points to various bits of his body, as well as familiar routines and actions. Many families purchase a toy Elmo for use alongside the book in order to help children start to recognise 2D pictures as representations of real objects.
As a very quick modification, you can use a piece of black cardboard to cover the opposite page to the one that your child is currently looking at (a useful technique with most books). Since my son enjoys this book so much, I've actually taped in a series of extra black pages to make it fool proof for whoever happens to be reading to him (see pictures, below).
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Look Inside...
So Big! (modified with extra black pages)