LITTLE CARNIVAL 04 • AGES 0–2 • BOARD-BOOK MANUSCRIPT PREVIEW

WHERE?
THERE!

Curiosity wants to find the little red ball. Confusion is not sure where to look. A picture-led first-words story about looking, pointing and finding.

Age-band production: 12 picture-led pages, each 0–15 story words. Repetition, pointing, gesture and caregiver participation carry most of the learning. This is a distinct infant/toddler manuscript, not a shortened older-reader story.

PAGE 01

Where?

Where is the red ball?
ART: Curiosity holds empty hands. Huge red ball icon appears in page corner as visual target.
PAGE 02

Look!

Look up!
ART: Curiosity points up. Confusion looks sideways. Caregiver prompt hidden in art: point upward.
PAGE 03

Not there.

No ball.
ART: Big empty sky above carnival bus. Simple shake-head gesture.
PAGE 04

Look down!

Down, down, down.
ART: Both characters crouch. Red-and-gold carnival floor fills lower half.
PAGE 05

Not there.

No ball.
ART: Confusion spreads hands: “hmm?” Expression gentle, never distressed.
PAGE 06

Behind?

Look behind the bus.
ART: Twin-bus world clearly visible. Curiosity peeks around rear wheel; no ball.
PAGE 07

Under?

Look under the seat.
ART: Safe interior view. Confusion bends to look under a bright carnival-bus seat.
PAGE 08

Wait!

I see red!
ART: Tiny red circle peeks from behind a striped cushion. Curiosity’s eyes widen.
PAGE 09

There!

There is the ball!
ART: Full-page reveal. Both point. Ball large and unmistakable.
PAGE 10

Roll!

Roll, ball, roll!
ART: Ball rolls gently toward Confusion. Curved motion line.
PAGE 11

Found it.

We looked. We found.
ART: Curiosity and Confusion sit together, ball between them.
PAGE 12

Again?

Where did it go?
ART: Ball partly hidden behind page edge; repeat-game invitation.

Learning layer

First spatial words: up, down, behind, under, there. Builds joint attention, pointing, visual search, repetition and the idea that “confused” can mean “I need another look.”

Character continuity

Curiosity is eager and points often. Confusion uses open hands, tilted head and “hmm?” expressions. Confusion is never mocked or shown as incapable; looking again is part of the game.

Front cover

Curiosity points one way, Confusion another. A red ball peeks from behind the twin-bus wheel. Giant title “WHERE? THERE!” with strong red-ball visual anchor.

Back cover

Five simple picture icons: up ↑, down ↓, behind ↶, under ⌄, there ●. Copy: “Point, look, find—and play again.” Authors: E. H. Ackerman & J. D. Ackerman.

PREVIEW — NOT PRINT-READY. Manuscript and visual direction are complete. Final character art, board-book trim/layout, safety review, proofing, metadata and release QA remain required.