White on Black [Board book]

Tana Hoban (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: May 27, 1993

Share these familiar shapes with your baby. It is never too early to look and talk together!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It's never too early to start kids reading. Even in infancy, young eyes can begin to make connections between images on a page and the real thing. White on Black is an ideal first book, and one that will continue to fascinate the very youngest readers as they grow. Exquisitely simple, solid white pictures of everyday objects--a banana, a duck, a bottle--against a black background provide high contrast for developing eyes. This wordless picture book encourages caregivers to engage the child as they "read" together: "Oh look, a boat, that looks like your bath toy, doesn't it?"

With White on Black's companion book, Black on White, Tana Hoban has created a striking pair of visual tools to increase the youngest readers' burgeoning powers of perception. In this complex world, it's a joy to find a book that sees the world in the simplest of terms. (Baby to Preschool) --Emilie Coulter

About the Author

Tana Hoban's photographs have been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and in galleries around the world. She has won many gold medals and prizes for her work as a photographer and filmmaker. Her books for children are known and loved throughout the world.

Product Details

• Board book: 12 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (May 27, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688119190
• ISBN-13: 978-0688119195
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.3 x 6.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tana Hoban's photographs have been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and in galleries around the world. She has won many gold medals and prizes for her work as a photographer and filmmaker. Her books for children are known and loved throughout the world.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Psychologist mom's ONLY shower gift June 18, 2001

By Shelly Spearing

Format:Board book

Before my first-born could speak or even SIT, all the adults around him could tell which page he liked most--true communication from an infant that didn't involve crying (or other intense and directed body language)! We were amazed that we all had noticed. The books got LOTS of attention from our wee one. Face it, there is just not a lot you CAN "read" to an infant those first six months of life. He loved them. I'm here buying my fifth or sixth set of these two books for yet another mom-to-be. They are so much more memorable than green and yellow clothing, for both parents and babes.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great first book for a baby. July 11, 2000

By "charlie4"

Format:Board book

We "read" this book to our son when he was a few weeks old, not because he understood the pictures, but because he could track the black and white pictures. Reading is extremely important to any child and we wanted to start early. So, eventhough our 4 week old had no idea what the words meant, he would nestle as we described the pictures to him and turned the pages. How else does a child learn to love reading? When our son was approximately one year old he could begin to describe some of the pictures and he would sit on the floor and "read" this book himself. An excellent, excellent first book for your baby or for a gift.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost as good as Black On White June 20, 2000

By Amy

Format:Board book|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book and "Black on White" (also by Tana Hoban) for my son when he was one month old. He liked them both, though "Black on White" was clearly his favorite (he reached for that one more often when they were both in front of him and there are far more tooth marks on that book).

Still, the white silhouettes of familiar objects on a black background did catch his interest when I turned the pages for him, and the simple, two-color book did interest him early on.

As with "Black on White," however, I find that his interest in "White on Black" waned when he turned about seven months old in favor of other, more colorful books.

If you only want to buy one book of this type, I would suggest going with "Black on White." However, I believe the two books do provide a good variety for a very young infant.