Busy Park (Busy Books)

I can't say enough good things about this series of board books ("Busy Park," "Busy Garden," etc.) by Rebecca Finn. My daughter has loved them since we started reading them to her at about nine months old. She is now two and they still entertain her in the car when we bring them along. Each colorful two-page spread has something for little fingers to manipulate (for example, "Busy Park" has a tab that slides up to make animals appear in a tree, a dial that turns to make fish swim around in a pond, a tab with clouds on it that reveals a rainbow underneath when it is pulled out, etc.). The opportunities for language input that these books provide for babies and toddlers is fabulous. As a parent and former speech therapist I am always on the lookout for stimulating books for the birth-to-three age group, and these are perfect. They are rich in age-appropriate vocabulary without being too visually complex. The simple, rhyming text refers to one of the main aspects of a scene (e.g., the animals that appear in a big tree), but it is easy to expand the language input by talking about other features (such as a boy and girl looking at the animals, their mom pushing a stroller down a path, a bird in another little tree, etc.). The everyday relevance of the pictures/vocab, the melodic text, and the fun of trying to work the tabs, dials, etc. make these books truly engaging for a small child. These books are also much more sturdy than any other board books I have seen that contain flaps/tabs (in our case this has been a very good thing since they have been read and played with over and over again!). The moveable parts are made out of the same sturdy board book material as the rest of the book, so they stand up to the abuse doled out from even the youngest hands. I can't ask for more from a board book -- fun, entertaining, durable, and a great teaching tool too! I plan to buy books from this series as gifts for all the babies and toddlers I know.

We bought this book for our two year old daughter on a whim in the bookstore. Since we brought it home two weeks ago, she insists on having it at the table with her when she eats, clutching it when she sleeps, and taking it with her EVERYWHERE she goes! The thing she likes most about the book is the fact that she can move the pieces (very easily) by herself. The concept is simple and the illustrations show pictures of things she can identify herself. In essence, as a two year old, she can read the book herself. It's also not so annoying as other books, so you don't mind reading it over and over (and over!). Highly recommended. The moving pieces, combined with the cute and colorful illustrations make this well worth the money!