A deceptively simple board book, with just four words per page (two of which are always “black bird”) is also quite elegant. From morning to night, a black bird moves from page to page, each featuring part of the natural world that’s a different color. Logically organized from sun up (“yellow sun”) to sundown (“blue moon”), the little black bird is shown from various perspectives throughout the day, sometimes flying, sometimes perched. The lines are clean and the shapes are clear in the textured collage artwork, so that a baby will always be able to find the black bird in its natural setting. It’s rare for an eight-page-spread board book to offer such a high level of artistry and such an exquisite aesthetic. (Birth to age 3)