STANLEY’S DINER by William Bee is the kind of book that reminds me of days when my son was just discovering books as a baby. The bold colors pop out of an all white background, making them instantly catching. Even the cover has a softness that reminds me of early board books.

The text is clear and easy to read. The story is a simple one, and that makes it perfect for young readers just learning sight words and sentence structure.

Another thing I noticed, and found rather delightful, was the almost geometric style in the illustrations. While reading this with my son, he noted several shapes he recognized right off the bat. It was a joy to see him read the words and then hunt through the pictures for shapes and colors. There is relatively no shading, so the colors are undisturbed and easily identifiable.

Stanley’s Diner is timeless in its story and execution. From toddlers to early readers, children are sure to enjoy the warm tale of Stanley and his friends.