When I saw the Teddy Bear Sing-Along titles were to be released by Silver Dolphin Books, I knew I wanted to check them out for Bookworm2 (age 15 months), my little kinesthetic learner. Give a book sounds and touchy-feely fluff and he is all over the book. I figured the cuteness of the teddy bears and familiarity of songs like “Old MacDonald” and “The Wheels on the Bus” would be fun for mommy to interact with him a bit.
I was not wrong. Bookworm2 absolutely adores both Old MacDonald Had a Farm and The Wheels on the Bus, both by David Ellwand
Both of these books contain photographs of stuffed teddy bears interacting within a scene to illustrate the song. In Old MacDonald Had a Farm we find Teddy Bear driving a tractor, scooping hay into a horse-drawn wagon, feeding pigs and generally looking quite cute.
In The Wheels on the Bus we find multiple teddy bears riding the Teddy Town Bus. There are bears waiting at bus stops with dogs on leashes. We see teddy bears of all types – some with glasses, some without, some holding cameras, and others content and enjoying their bus ride.
Furthermore, on each book there is a magical button. Push the button and it tinkles out the tune for the well-known songs which each book is named after. Does Bookworm2 like these books? Nothing delights him more and when he is getting antsy and agitated I hand them over. A smile erupts on his face and it becomes his immediate goal to see how long he can keep both songs going at the same time. (Do you know what I’m talkin’ about? Raise a hand!) If we can keep both songs going simultaneously, we have found something good. And we keep doing that until Mommy rethinks things.
On the whole, I found the illustrations in these books supremely cute. I like the concept of photographing teddy bears – a toy that many young children can identify with. I like the songs (played individually) and it makes it easy to sing along and turn the pages. If I only give him one book at a time, these books work out well for both of us and we have a fun time.
Definitely a cute novelty book and I offer my thanks to Silver Dolphin Books for giving us the opportunity to check them out!
Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.
Jennifer, Snapshot (&5minutesforbooks) says
Very funny! But at least he’s annoying you with BOOKS and not something else, right?
Annette W says
Oh, we have a set of maybe five books that have a button to play a tinny song…and both of my children LOVE them…when we travel to VT later this year, they will be in the car for the purpose of annoying Mom and Dad…well, not really, but it will feel that way!
Despite my aggrevation, I love pairing music with books!
Petula says
That sounds like such a fun book for the little ones! (and me too! LOL)