Open This Little Book, written by Jesse Klausmeier and illustrated by Suzy Lee. Chronicle, Raincoast. 2012. $18.99 ages 2 and up

"and read a story about...
a ladybug, who reads a story about 
a FROG, who reads a story about
a rabbit, who reads a story about
a BEAR, who reads a story about
a giant, whose friends read her
          a story about...."  

This is a first picture book for Jesse Klausmeier and I hope it won't be the last! I absolutely think that Chronicle Books should be commended for doing the design and publication work that brings it to an appreciative audience. It must be a labor intensive process. I know the children who will love it, and want to read it repeatedly. It is just the kind of book that will find its way into eager little hands!

Here's how it looks when it is fully opened:

So much fun! Because of the repetitive and predictable language and design, little ones will be begging to read it on their own, to their teddy, to their grandmother, to anyone who wants to listen. It is about color, friendship and sharing,  and opening with delight a brand new book.

Each new book is nestled inside the previous one, and they get smaller and smaller as the reading progresses. In the red book, we read about a ladybug who is opening a little green book to read about a frog. You get where I am going with this one, right?  Observant little ones will note that as the books get smaller, the readers get bigger, the colors keep changing and the fun never ends.

We are only halfway through the book when we get to the smallest rainbow book that must be read by the giant's friends because her hands are just too big to turn the pages! Back we go, closing the book as the reading is completed...until we are ready to choose another!

I am a huge fan of Suzy Lee's work...and this final image  has me wanting even more!