Can You Read It? Well...Er...Yes (Silly Question Really!) (Bob the Builder Annual: 2002)

Member Name: blackjane

Product:	Bob the Builder Annual: 2002
Date:	04/12/01 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's got Bob on the cover - what else do you need

Disadvantages: Only for the very young (or the very young at heart)

This book is ideal for the literary challenged, or would alternatively be an ideal Christmas present for a younger member of your family this Christmas.

Like most popular phenomena of recent times that have originated from children's television, Bob The Builder is a merchandiser's dream come true. Not only has he topped the singles chart twice (with the hits 'Can We Fix It' and 'Mambo Number 5') but we have also seen a hit album earlier this year. Bob (or rather an imposter in a Bob The Builder costume) was also the guest of honour for the switch on of the Christmas lights in Burnley this year, although most of the children present were unaware that they were being hoodwinked by an imposter. This is all in addition to the highly popular children's TV series, but now we also have the 2002 annual to add to an ever-growing list of merchandising opportunities upon which to spend our hard-earned cash.

For those that weren't alreay aware, this book is a sequel to the highly successful 2001 annual, and the publishers have obviously decided to keep on with their winning formula this year. When I was a youngster I used to occasionally receive annuals as Christmas presents (Blue Peter, Beano, Dandy, or something Football related from memory.) It seems that this is one tradition that refuses to leave us, as annuals now seem to be as popular as ever.

I bought this book as a present (you don't really believe that I would buy it for myself do you?) and although it appears at first glance to be a little bit pricy at £5.99, it is bound to provide hours of entertainment for impressionable youngsters. There are sixty-four pages filled with stories about Bob and his acquaintances from the TV series as well as puzzles to test tiny brains, jokes (targetted firmly at four year olds) and much much more besides.

Alternatively the cheapskates amongst you can look out for this book at half price or less in the January s
ales, but by this time the effect of giving it as a gift will have diminished dramatically.

Trainspotters (or should that be bookspotters?) should note that this annual is published in hardback by Egmont Children's Books (ISBN 0749851465) and has been available since July 2001 in order to garner as many sales as possible in time for Christmas.

In conclusion, I would say that this book is likely to be a winner with young readers this Christmas, being entertaining without being too taxing. The popularity of the character should ensure your enduring popularity, provided you have done your homework to find out if the potential recipient is indeed a 'Bob' fan.

Finally, I promise that my next book review will be slightly more 'high-brow' although after this contribuution I don't think that will be too difficult to achieve!

{Another original Dooyoo opinion
© Blackjane 2001}

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