Average Rating:

.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar [Board Book]

by: Eric Carle

September 07, 1995
If you love reading to your child, do not miss this book.

It is a delightful, humourous,dream-like surreal book, with a repetitive, poetic, chanting story.

It is (deservedly) a children's classic. Many reviewers here have tried to break down the different elements of this book.

What I would like to convey is the whole experience of reading the book which teaches a simple life experience to a child - which is highly spiritual, particularly the last pages where a riot of colour is the world through the eyes of a butterfly.

The story has optimism and beauty at its very core.

It has limitless opportunities for teaching and conversation. There is a colouring book of the fantastic ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

VTech First Steps Baby Walker

from: VTech

September 07, 1995
I bought this for my (then) 12-month old niece, thinking that she would be too young to use it. Not at all! She was absolutely hooked, could not get enough and was walking before many of the kids older than her. My sister-in-law told me that lots of her little friends at Nursery were suddenly bought the same V-Tech Walker when they saw my niece walking!

My niece is now nearly 3 and yet she still loves her walker - she uses it to pretend that it's a pram and she dances around to the music. It's really quite a clever little thing, because it teaches numbers, letters and it has all these tunes. She learnt very quikcly how to get the sounds that she wanted to hear. She now has two little brothers and they're already enjoying the music, which ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

Crayola Beginnings 24 Jumbo Crayons

from: Crayola

September 07, 1995
Don't bother buying this item! I just did, and, instead of 24 crayons in a nice round container as pictured, I received (very late) three cardboard packets of crayons. Not a nice present for a two-year-old.

Average Rating:

.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (Classic Board Books with Holes)

by: Pam Adams

2000-09
I bought the book for a present after reading all the great reviews. Found the story rather strange. And the ending that the woman dies is odd. Maybe that's English humour I don't get. The graphics are lovely though. I bought the hardbook and there was no CD, maybe hearing the song helps to enjoy the story more.

Average Rating:

.

Aliens Love Underpants!

by: Claire Freedman

May 08, 2007
My little boy got given this book for CHristmas last year and loves it so much that I could probably quote it all the way through, I've read it so often. Okay, there's not a strong story but what do you expect for a cartoon book for pre-schoolers? The rhymes are cute and the pictures are great - we love it, and so do all the kids at nursery!

Average Rating:

.

The Wheels on the Bus: Go Round and Round (Classic Board Books with Holes)

from: Child's Play (International) Ltd

2001-09
My son is only 5 months, but he loves looking at this book even if he doesn't understand the "story" yet - there are lots of bright colours and things to see in the pictures. I can see him enjoying it more and more as he gets older as we discuss the content of the pictures (people, animals, clowns, magicians...) My only problem is to stop my son from eating the book! The CD is a great bonus.

Average Rating:

.

Tomy Rainbow Aquadraw

from: Tomy

2001-09
I have got 2 of these for my 2year old, one at grandma's and one at mine.

Such a good idea. No other mess. The pens fill with water. My daughter first got hers aged 1... and no, that wasn't too early! She has loved it ever since.

They aren't perfect,but what is? the mats are susceptible to dirt, as are the pens. I read a couple of review from mums who didn't like them as their children threw juice over them or got the pens dirty, but seriously, keep other liquids away from your children whilst they are being played with, and the pens away when they aren't being used, and whats the problem?

These are with no doubt one of the best toys my daughter has ever had and I already have one in my basket as a Christmas present for another ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

Dear Zoo

by: Rod Campbell

February 02, 2007
A wonderful little book. Has lift the flaps so the little ones can interact whilst you're reading the story. A simple story, but kept both my girls entertained again and again. They never seem to get bored of it. Solid and sturdy - excellent for toddlers and babies a like. You won't be disappointed.

Average Rating:

.

What to Expect the Toddler Years (What to Expect)

by: Heidi E. Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, Sandee E. Hathaway

March 01, 1996
This is a book to turn to for help on every aspect of parenting small children. It's well laid out, easy to find specific information, and concise without being dry. It covers everything from developmental stages, to healthy eating (including recipe ideas), childhood diseases, immunisation and first aid, helping your child develop ethics and good values. It's a hefty tome, reflecting a vast amount of knowledge gathered by the two authors over many years, and it was my crutch!

You may want to buy additional guides to parenting if you are struggling with a particular aspect of parenting, particularly the emotional and behavioural aspects, but this may be the one book that you turn to constantly until your child is 3.

Average Rating:

.

In the Night Garden (Little Library): Little Library (In the Night Garden)

by: BBC

September 21, 2007
I bought these for my two year old who is a recent In The Night Garden fan. They are fantastic. Admittedly the box arrived a bit worse for wear (I am in Australia) but it still holds the books when it needs to. My daughter carries the books everywhere. Stops, sits down to read them, waves them around in one hand, lines them up to count to 6 or turns them over to complete the puzzle on the back. For a few dollars she has had hours of fun already. Highly recommend!