This was goofy. I enjoyed it. ( )

Having explored the significance of the behind in her delightful Tushy Book, author Fran Manushkin turns here to the tummy, presenting a rollicking read-aloud celebration of the belly, in all its many shapes and sizes. "Every daughter, every son, / has their own - but only one - / with a button in the middle. / Can you guess this little riddle?" it begins, going on to highlight everything about our middles, from the noises they make when we're hungry to the giggling they cause when tickled.

With a rhyming text that is great fun to read, and bright, colorful artwork that grabs the attention, The Belly Book would make an entertaining story-hour selection, particularly for kids who enjoy humorous body books such as The Holes in Your Nose, or The Soles Of Your Feet. I don't know that I enjoyed this one quite as much as Manushkin's Tushy Book - I think the rhyming text flowed just a bit more smoothly in that earlier title - but it was still very engaging. Recommended to anyone looking for fun read-aloud titles for younger children. ( )

A fun, lively celebration of bellies of all kinds. ( )

This lively book is an ode to bellies everywhere. The rhyming text celebrates bellies big and small, hairy and smooth. From belly flops to belly dancing, this humorous book will be a hit with kids.

Manushkin’s short, but laugh out loud rhyming text is perfectly paired with Yaccarino’s simple, colorful style. Bellies are universal and it’s wonderful to see the cultural diversity of tummies. Although there are mostly human bellies, there are a few animal bellies (and an alien belly, too!). And where there are bellies there are belly buttons, which many kids find fascinating, as well as funny.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-41-belly-book-by-fran-manushkin...