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Peek-a Who?

Book cover for Peek-a Who? by Nina Laden

Using die-cut windows, this book turns "peek-a-boo" into a guessing game. The final page features a mirror, which is a consistent favorite for very young children.

Peek-a Who? by Nina Laden is estimated to take about 2 minutes to read aloud (30 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 0-3.

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Estimated read-aloud time
about 2 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
Estimated word count
30Our estimate
Sentences per page
1Sentence per page
Re-read tolerance
5/5still good at forty
Vocabulary level
1/5plain words
Best for
Ages 0-3Our editorial fit

Our review

The windows allow an eighteen-month-old to guess the answer before the page is even turned. This creates a sense of accomplishment that kids find very satisfying.

It is a short book, but that is fine because it's meant for constant repetition. It works best for very young children who enjoy interactive surprises.

Before you buy it

It only lasts for six spreads, so it's over quickly. However, it's the kind of book intended to be read six times in a row rather than just once.

Themes

  • peekaboo
  • guessing
  • rhyme
  • mirrors

Books like Peek-a Who?

Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.

Questions parents ask

How long does it take to read Peek-a Who? aloud?

About 2 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 30. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.

What age is Peek-a Who? actually for?

Ages 0-3 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 1 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.

Does Peek-a Who? survive being read on repeat?

Yes - this is one of the few that is still fine on the fortieth reading, which is why it scores 5 out of 5 with us.

Is Peek-a Who? a good book for a child who will not sit still?

It helps that it rhymes, and it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.

Will my child memorise Peek-a Who??

Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 5 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.

Can a beginning reader read Peek-a Who? on their own?

It is closer than most picture books. With 1 sentence a page and plain vocabulary (1 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.

What themes does Peek-a Who? cover?

We tag it with peekaboo, guessing, rhyme and mirrors. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.