The idea behind 'You Choose' is very simple: on each page, the book asks a question and then provides a double page illustration of all the things you could possibly choose. The child then picks out all his or her favourites. It's an opportunity to talk about the pictures and ideas as you read with your child.

The title page introduces you to the three unnamed characters who will accompany you through the book, a boy, a girl and a ginger cat.

Into the book proper, the first question is "If you could go anywhere, where would you go?" and our characters fly across a patch-work landscape in a hot air balloon. Your child can pick out features such as the beach, city, a volcano, mountains and deserts amongst others.

Next an array of portraits meets your eye as you are asked who you'd choose for family and friends. You can pick from a pirate, witch, viking, clown or more 'normal' people. Throughout the book, you can spot the trio, offering their favourites in speech bubbles. The questions ask what sort of home you would have, how you'd like to travel, favourite foods, pets, clothes and jobs. Up until the finale of what sort of bed you would choose, where the book bids you goodnight.

There's plenty to look for and talk about with your child as you read through this book, and there are laughs and the imagination to spark - by imagining owning a dragon or your best friend being a vampire.

The illustrations are colourful, cute and remind me somewhat of the cartoon sequences in children's tv show Tracy Beaker. (On further research, this is because it *is* the same illustrator! D'oh. Both are illustrated by Nick Sharratt). I like that gender stereotyping is avoided in the 'ideal job' pages, by having both men and women represented in some jobs, such as police and pilot, while a woman is shown as a plumber and a man as a fashion designer. There's also a range of ethnicities represented.

The book is much-loved by my son, who will pick it to read through regularly.

I have to say, my heart sinks when he does as although he loves it, it drives me nuts as a bed-time story. There's so much to look at and talk about, it takes ages to do it justice. Although the way it signs off with the choice of beds and a goodnight suggests it's intended as a night-time read, I think it's better as a daytime book when you have a spare half-hour!

I have to admit, I am also just bored with it now - but the Boy never seems to tire of it. We've had it several years, and he still enjoys it as much now he is six as he did when he was two or three. It's been a great success with the Boy and outside my head, no-one hears me scream... Hopefully the end is nigh and he'll out-grow it soon!

You can buy it through Amazon for £4.09 currently. I'd recommend it for children from toddler to primary school age: it's wonderful for getting and keeping the child's attention.



Product details (as available from Amazon):

* Paperback: 32 pages
* Publisher: Corgi Childrens; New edition edition (1 July 2004)
* Language English
* ISBN-10: 0552547085
* ISBN-13: 978-0552547086
* Product Dimensions: 29.4 x 25.6 x 0.8 cm