A GREAT START FOR LITTLE ONES (Dear Zoo)

Name: catsy

Hello doyoo user, You have to be logged in to use these functions... Login or register Close window

Send message to member

Product:	Dear Zoo
Date:	29/02/08 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A GREAT BOOK FROM 6 MONTHS TO 6 YEARS

Disadvantages: NONE

I try to read to my son as much as I can and we have a lot of different books ranging from Disney's classics to little red tractor going through Mr Men. "Dear zoo" was given to me by my health visitor in a bookstart pack for my son at his 2 years check-up.

It is what I would call a book with cardboard pages and the cover has the body of a lion in a red transit crate with a tag stating "from the zoo" on it. It also has the title above the picture as well as the author, namely Rod Campbell underneath it. The back cover shows 6 animals in a crate with their heads sticking out. It also gives you a book summary and the publication details on the left hand bottom corner. It also has the bookstart logo (Big bear reading to little bear) in the centre between the publication info and the isdn number.

The book itself is very sturdy with quite thick cardboard pages and each one has writing on the left hand side and a lift up flap in a crate shape (may it be small wide, tall or circular) with writing underneath on the right hand side. The story focuses on the idea that the zoo has sent a little boy/or girl a pet after receiving their letter and each pet is sent in a crate with a tag explaining whether it is heavy or dangerous and so on . After lifting the flap, we find out what the pet is and why the little person is not happy with it and subsequently why they sent it back. Each page shows you another animal which was sent and which has to be discovered until the perfect pet is finally dispatched and kept.

I have to admit that this book has delighted my son and he will happily look at this book by himself or with me. This is a bedtime favourite as it has the reading part from me and he contributes by lifting the flaps and revealing the hidden animal. Although we have now had this for a few months, it is read on a regular basis. My son even repeats why the animals are not suitable so it leaves me with only having to read the first page.

This book is delightful and is one of the rare cardboard books that have lived to be read past the 2 year old stage. It is great as it is interactive and not too long so suitable for bedtime reading (or any other time where a long book would not be convenient). It also offers visual as well as hand eye coordination and I think it could be used for children as young as 6-8months old to introduce them to animals and colours and let's not forget reading. It will also carry on being used by toddlers and could also be used to entice reading as the words are big and repetitive enough.

This is a great book for all ages and although it was given to me for a 2 year old, it could be used before this age and beyond. For me, It is one of the top children's books along with Hungry Caterpillar.

BOOK PUBLISHED BY CAMPBELLS BOOKS
AN IMPRINT FOR MACMILLAN CHILDREN'S BOOKS

PRICE:
£4.99 RRP

Can be found for £0.01 on amazon
£0.99 start prices on Ebay


Also published on Ciao

Summary: A GREAT BOOK FOR READING, LEARNING AND INTERACTION.