Earlier this week, I asked my Facebook followers to nominate their favourite children’s books for review.
Within ten minutes, I had everyone telling me I just HAD to get my hands on a copy of Mix it Up! by Herve Tullet.
All right, all right! Peer pressure wins. I tracked down a copy a yesterday, and here are my thoughts (and those of my four-and-a-half-year-old daughter).
—
Mix it Up! / Herve Tullet
(Allen & Unwin, 2014)
The majority spoke, and I must concur – this book is wonderful! In Mix it Up!, Tullet uses dots of paint and interactive magic to teach children how colours mix to create new colours.
First, the magic. Children tap the book to first invite the colours onto the page, and then to make their hand magic.
And now, with their magic hands, they can mix the colours on the page. They do this in many ways – pressing colour into other colours with their hands, pressing pages together tightly, and, in my purple-enamoured daughter’s favourite part, tilting the book to mix red with blue.
My daughter knows her colours well, but is always asking for confirmation. “Does yellow and red make orange? Or purple maybe? No, orange? Mum? MUM? MUUUUUUMMMMM?” Now, she nails it every time. There’s nothing like having visual confirmation of your hunch instead of hearing your mum sigh and say, “Yes, sweetie. Orange.” For the hundredth time.
We’ve had Mix it Up! for less than twenty-four hours, and I’ve already ordered it. Future Easter present, perhaps? Birthday present? Just-because-we-love-it present? Haven’t decided yet. Just gotta have our very own copy! You can get your own copy too – either here from Booktopia, or here from Book Depository.
Have you read Mix it Up!? What did you think?
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click to buy the item, I earn a little commission but you don’t pay any extra.
Looks like a great book. My girls have all had their heads stuck in books for most of the school holidays. They have always been like this. Hope it doesn’t change.
Sigh, me too. I hope my children always manage to find joy simply by opening their favourite book.
Oooh I love it! I’m looking for some new kids books. I will have to buy it. Thanks!
No worries! I hope you all enjoy it.
This looks great! I’m always on the prowl for new books, my little one is currently obsessed with this one- she gets really into it: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hand-hand-fingers-thumb-al-perkins/1103362868?ean=9780394810768
It’s now on the (extremely long) list of books to check out – thank you!
I have never heard of this one but it sounds and looks like something kids would love so thanks for sharing. I am trying to track down Naughty Agapanthus – a tale I loved as a kid which is probably out of print now.
I just found a book from when I was younger and cannot find it ANYWHERE. Gutted, as I wanted to feature it on the blog. It’s truly breathtaking, and I’m so glad it survived into my adulthood!
Thanks for your amazingly timed review Em! Little E received a belated xmas prezzie yesterday which was ‘Press Here’ by Herve Tullet as well. Crazy. It’s all the fun of a touch-screen, but on paper. I love it already.
Which means that I’ll have to check out Mix It Up as well.
I NEED a copy of Press Here! Also added to the (extremely long) list of books to check out!
My kids are too old for this one but perfect for my nephew and niece. As I am out of the loop now with young kids books, this was great to get more ideas.
Glad I could help out – I hope they like it!
This looks totally awesome ! Thanks for sharing such a great find – I’m thinking this would be great presents for my kids and for birthday presents – awesome!
Definitely great for a present – the cover is such fun as well, it doesn’t look like a boring book when you unwrap it.
I haven’t heard of it either, but it looks like a great book! And very different!
Very different! I’m enjoying discovering all the ‘outside the square’ books being released at the moment.
This is perfect for my Esther! She’d love it! Great review Em. 🙂
I hope she does! Enjoy x
I haven’t heard of Mix It Up!!! Will definitely have to look into it. I still get mixed up with my colour combos so I would take personal benefit in buying it 🙂
You can set yourself nightly homework with it!! x
Looks like a beautiful book Em. We have The Game of Light by Herve Tullet. It has cut out shapes on each page and you use a torch to shine onto the page to create shadows on the wall. The kids love it and it’s a bit of fun before bed if it’s dark enough. I love how there’s so many different books out there for kids – lucky things!
Sounds like I just need to buy the entire Herve Tullet back catalogue! Loving all these suggestions, thanks.
Wow, what a clever idea! I hate when people have clever ideas that I never thought of.
Haha, me too! Because it seems SO OBVIOUS afterwards! (Apple Pear Orange Bear was that book for me. Not that I can illustrate…)
what a brilliant book! I have made a note of if and am off to track it down myself! Thanks!
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.