When I look through the Little Miss Bronte board book of Jane Eyre: A Counting Primer, I'm struck by the way the colors communicate the moods of the actual book and how the artist includes a bird on every page in homage to one of the main themes of Charlotte Bronte's classic work. I especially love how the items counted aren't apples or balls; they're important objects from the text that evoke scenes of the very adult story. From the eight drawings that show subjects like Adele, Mr. Rochester, and Pilot to the ten books in the library, this baby book is clearly working on a lot of levels.

The Little Master Carroll version of Alice in Wonderland: A Colors Primer, just released, is likewise delightful, with playfully mod illustrations that feature all of my favorite characters. I will admit that it's probably not the strongest book to actually teach a baby colors, as the caterpillar is labeled blue while he's clearly teal and the orange Cheshire Cat against a melon-colored background is hard to see. But you know what? I'm obsessed with Alice and would totally buy it anyway, if only to add to my own collection.