Official URL: www.studiomouse.com
Age Range: 3+
List Price: $4.99
Rating:

Don’t let the relatively small, thin size of this book fool you. This little book and CD packs quite a bit of entertainment into its 11 pages. Beginning with the song/rhyme “Five Little Monkeys” and continuing through other fun rhyming songs. The book can be read by itself or used in conjunction with the included CD as a sing along.

SONGS/RHYMES

1. Five Little Monkeys
2. Three Blind Mice
3. One, Two, Three, Four, Five (a rhyme about catching a fish and letting it go)
4. One, Two Buckle My Shoe
5. This Old Man (Knick, Knack Paddywhack)

MUSIC

The music on the CD is standard children’s fare, nothing stand-out about it. It flows nicely with the book and kids will love to “read” along as the songs are sung.

CONSTRUCTION

This book has a thicker than normal outer cover that holds up really well to play. The pages are also a thicker, stationary quality paper that has a shiny coating. The inside of the front cover has a flap with a plastic pouch to hold the CD. The top of the book is a handle for easy carrying.

ILLUSTRATIONS

The illustrations in this book are very colorful and fun. Each rhyme has its own illustration style, which just adds to the fun. They range in style from comic strip and cartoon style to an older-style drawing in “Three Blind Mice”.

CONCERNS

For me personally, I found the book a delightful rendering of traditional children’s rhymes and songs. For the very sensitive child or ultra-conservative parent, there could be concern over the content of some of the selections. For example, in “Three Blind Mice” the farmer’s wife does cut off their tails with a carving knife (though it is not pictured!) and in “One, Two, Three, Four, Five” the fish bites the little girl’s finger. Very mild and common in older nursery rhymes in my opinion but worth mentioning for a thorough review.

BOTTOM LINE

My 3-year-old daughter and I love this book and CD. When I’m getting ready in the morning, I can turn on the CD and give her this book and she is entertained repeatedly. A great option to sticking her in front of the TV. I highly recommend Five Little Monkeys for the toddler through young school age set.