Red is Best

Red is Best | Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Robin Baird Lewis

Annick Press, 2006

I picked up a handful of board books for E at the library last week, and was happy to have a "red" themed book at home after we explored the color red in art class Friday morning.

In Red is Best, toddler Kelly expresses her preference for all things red. She wants to wear her red stockings because they help her jump higher, even if her mom (who just doesn't understand, naturally) says her white stockings look better with her dress. She wants to wear her red jacket even if her blue jacket is warmer, because in her red jacket, she is Red Riding Hood. Red boots, red mitts, red pajamas, red cup, red barettes, red paint... plain and simple, red is best.

This book is a tad wordy for board book format, though the sturdier pages could certainly be a selling point should your child decides that he or she likes Red is Best best. Originally published in 1982 (in Canada, which explains why I was unfamiliar with the title despite its "classic" status) the illustrations retain a vaguely retro feel but don't detract from enjoying the book in 2015.

Overall, it's a cute story that will resonate with the opionated toddler and preschool crowd (and their parents). It pairs nicely with Small Bunny's Blue Blanket (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013).