Once Upon a Time...: A Pop-In-Slot Book

Got this as a present and it took a long time to find it again so we could gift it to others. Definitely a favorite silly book and works well for non-readers up through early readers/early writers. For instance, the reader can decide if the beautiful princess meets a magic "toilet", has a pet "pirate" or eats a "shoe" for her dinner. Graphics are colorful, the inserts have held up well to lots of use, and the book lends itself to straight or very silly stories. We've had kids from 2-6 adore this book.

This book is so cool! It really encourages your child to use their imagination and to also understand the components used in making a story. We have never seen any book like this and it is such a big hit with my 6 and 3 yr old daughters. We have made some pretty funny stories and you can get really creative (make up some of your own inserts and/or use the ones designated for one page on another)!

This book is so CUTE! One of my 2nd grade students brought it in to share. The kids took turns changing the story and then reading thier version to the class! This is a great book for inspiring imaginations!! It is a great book for a center!!! The illustrations are bright and beautiful. The writing is clear for children to read. They absolutely loved it!!!

There is something unique and special about this book. As a volunteer who reads one-on-one to preschoolers, I have observed that, when choosing from an array of age-appropriate books, the children, boys and girls alike, invariably choose "Once Upon A Time" as the story they want to hear first. They love being able to make the choices that will make "their story" unique. They expand their vocabulary as they learn to identify unicorns, dragons, and tree houses. They can add to their early reading skills by naming the letters or even reading the words on the cut-out pictures. They learn that when the story is over, it's best to return the cut-outs to their well-marked places so they'll all be ready for the next reading of the story. And, perhaps most importantly, the story becomes a backdrop for thought-provoking conversations such as, "what would YOU wish for if a "magic duck" granted you three wishes?"This book goes far beyond its fairly simple story and concept. I wish there were more interactive books of this genre for this age group.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess storybook that changed every time a child opened it. This short-and-sweet candy-colored board book comes with 36 press-out pieces that let you choose a different picture for each spread, thereby changing the story each time it's read. Because it's really half story and half game, it provides interactive possibilities that never end. It's an absolutely perfect fantasy book for little girls age 3-6 in the throes of the imaginative "princess phase." Learning to read doesn't get any better than this.