Synopsis: Using media as diverse as twigs, pollen and ketchup, the words ‘What is this?’ are spelled out on alternate spreads of this simple-looking picture book. Beside these words is a photograph of the object to be identified, but no words are ever given in answer to the question. Instead, a turn of the page reveals that same object, transformed by the addition of drawn, painted, collaged or sculpted elements, into something quite different.

Review: Although it is not a board book, this small, square book of photographs looks like a basic wordbook, to teach children the names of things. It could easily be used in this way, with an adult reading to a toddler, or indeed (as I did) to an older child learning a second language, since the images are not at all ‘babyish’. However, unlike any conventional wordbook, readers soon find that the answer to the question 'what is this?' is not straightforward. Some sequences are more successful than others. For example, the words ‘what is this?’ are spelled out in milk, alongside a photograph of a slice of Swiss cheese. The child might shout ‘cheese!’ triumphantly, in answer to the question, but they will probably be even more delighted to find that on the next page, made entirely out of cheese with the holes for patches, is the image of a Friesian cow. Depending on the age of the child, this sequence may provoke discussion about where milk and cheese actually come from, making it all the more satisfying.

In comparison, the bar of soap which becomes an owl seems a little puzzling! However, once readers grasp the idea of expecting the unexpected, they will enjoy anticipating how each of the 22 everyday objects may be transformed at the turn of a page. On re-reading, the goal can be trying to remember what each image will become. The notion of looking carefully and imaginatively at shape, and spotting similarities between diverse objects could be of interest to older children too. It might, for example lead to a presentation of the intriguing work of 16th century Italian artist Arcimboldo, famous for his painted portraits constructed from fruit and vegetables, where an ear may be depicted as a mushroom, a nose as a pear.

Ultimately, this fun book promotes a flexible approach to the visual, and provokes easy discussion, even with a child whose spoken and written language may be limited.

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2008-08-14