MY BARNYARD!

Little ones are invited to piece together a farm.

The barnyard acts as a backdrop for this "read and play" book. Cows, chickens, horses, and several other farm animals are absent from their pictures, and little ones are encourage to complete the illustration with attached puzzle pieces. Each animal piece is connected to the book's spine with a colored ribbon. The ribbon's color matches the book's text. For example, in the hint "Chickens 'cluck' as they go," the word “chicken” is printed in orange type, and the chicken piece is affixed to the book with an orange ribbon. These ribbons also make these pieces nearly impossible to lose. The pieces are sturdy enough that young readers can chew on them, and parents needn't worry about soggy sheep falling apart. Younger readers may be more interested in fiddling with individual pieces than in the blandly rhyming story, but older readers will surely enjoy the matching game.

Part book, part puzzle, all fun.