3 Reasons Why You Should Read Say Hello by Renae Hayward, illustrated by Rebecca Mills

What’s the book about?

This fun, bold, read-aloud book has been designed to captivate children from a young age. Research shows that the more senses you engage while reading to bubs positively impacts the development of their language and comprehension skills. That’s why Say Hello can be read and sung, and has simple, high-contrast illustrations featuring many recognisable words. Plus, it explores thing babies enjoy doing – from splashing water to kicking balls, shaking a rattle to making a muddy mess – this is an interactive books that gives babies a lot of chances to participate.

Recommended for: 

Ages 1+.

Three reasons to read it: 

1. Rebecca Mills’ illustrations are a standout feature of Say Hello. Her artworks are colorful, lively, and expressive, capturing the essence of the book’s celebration of babies. The illustrations bring the text to life, visually representing the various cultures and scenarios depicted in the story. Mills’ use of colors and dynamic compositions make the book a super fun read for the little ones.
2. Say Hello is a celebration of diversity and inclusion, portraying a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, and identities. The book introduces readers to various babies from different walks of life, showcasing numerous backgrounds. By exposing children to a multitude of cultures, Say Hello encourages them to appreciate and respect differences from an early age.
3. The book promotes positive social interactions and the importance of saying hello as a simple yet powerful gesture of kindness. It reinforces the value of greeting others with respect and warmth, teaching children social skills and the impact of friendly communication. By emphasizing the universal nature of greetings, Say Hello encourages children to foster positive relationships with others.

Buy a copy of Say Hello here.

About the author:

Renae Hayward was born during a cyclone in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, but spent her formative years by the beaches of Perth’s northern suburbs. She has authored two books for children, Barking Mad (Walker Books Australia) and Say Hooray (Fremantle Press), and was the inaugural recipient of the Ray Koppe Young Writers Residency (Australian Society of Authors/Varuna).

Rebecca Mills is a graphic designer and illustrator, best known for her bright, colourful, whimsical illustrations. Creating for both the corporate world and the children’s market, Rebecca’s illustrations have made it into exhibitions and onto prints, puzzles, clothing, stamps, even surfboards.