📚 Book Review: Name Your Colors (and Critters, too!) (FlipFlap Board Book)

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It’s been a while since we’ve taken the time to share anything with you. As I was picking up my room, I found this cute board book received for a 📚 Book Review: Name Your Colors (and Critters, too!) A Flip Flap Board Book. I couldn’t wait to share with David and Charlie.

Name Your Colors (Critters, too!) is a board books that goes beyond the basics. Name Your Colors (and Critters, too!) brings a playful, hands-on learning experience that instantly captures a young child’s attention but also will get an adult to stop.

This inventive FlipFlap board book introduces little learners to colors through a cast of adorable, brightly illustrated insects and critters which would have worked out perfectly when Charlie was Homeschooling and studing insects and colors.

Each page reveals a new surprise as children turn, flip, and interact with the uniquely designed pages—making this more than just a read-aloud book, but an experience. I can see children reading this book for hours on end.

What makes this title stand out is its clever dual-spine design, allowing the book to be read both forward and backward. As children move through the story, they meet cheerful bugs that highlight different colors—like a red ladybug which would have been Suzzane’s favorite. An orange butterfly, I loved.

A pink mantis, David and Charlie liked and more. Each page feels like a discovery moment, which keeps not only toddlers engaged but adults as well. The story encourages repetition (something parents will definitely appreciate!).

The rhythmic, simple text supports early language development while reinforcing color recognition in a natural, playful way. The final reveal—showing a full rainbow of critters—ties everything together in a satisfying way for little readers. We all know David struggles with reading but not this book.

One of the strongest aspects of this book is its interactive structure. The die-cut pages shaped like leaves sets this apart from other children’s books. The flip-flap mechanics make it sturdy enough for little hands while still feeling innovative. It invites curiosity, fine motor skill development, and repeated exploration.

Parents will appreciate that it’s short (perfect attention span length), durable (board book quality), and educational without feeling overly instructional.

Name Your Colors (and Critters, too!) is a creative twist on early learning books. It blends color recognition, interactive play, and charming illustrations into a format that toddlers will want to revisit again and again. It’s especially great for families looking to add more engaging, hands-on board books to their home library.

A delightful pick for curious little learners—and a strong addition to any early childhood bookshelf.

Publisher: Workman Publishing / Workman Kids
Format: Board Book (Flip-Flap interactive format)
Genre: Early Learning, Colors, Concepts
Best for ages: Toddlers and Preschoolers

About the book:

Welcome to FlipFlap Board Books: Adventures to be read forwards, backwards, and side-to-side! For young kids learning their basics and exploring the world around them, this creatively formatted book (which can be read forwards AND backwards) teaches kids their colors with a cast of cute and colorful bugs.

A unique format, this board book has two spines—one on each side. Every other page attaches to the opposing spine so that the book opens outward left and right. As the reader turns the pages (each die-cut in the shape of a leaf), a new colorful bug appears.

A bright red ladybug rests on a leaf.
An orange butterfly hangs beneath.
In the breeze, a pink mantis sways.
A white cabbage moth flutters and plays.

As the story goes on, kids learn their colors and are rewarded with a rainbow of bugs at the back of the book. 

Colorful critters, a rainbow of friends! (Can you read it back again?)

Then, in order to closer the book correctly, the text must be read backwards while the bugs hide away again. With wonderfully layered design, illustration, and text that can be read forwards and backwards, there’s a surprising amount to discover in this small but mighty board book that begs to be read multiple times.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates