Dolls
A multi-ethnic range of anatomically correct boy and girl dolls are available from Wesco (01376 503590), priced Pounds9.60 for newborns (without hair) and Pounds11.20 for older babies (with hair). Outfits for the Asian, Caucasian, African and mixed-race dolls are available from Pounds5.60 to Pounds7.90 each.
Multi-ethnic block people
(Step by step, Pounds16.99 per set, tel:0845 300 1089) are small world family groups - black, white and Asian - each with eight members, ranging in age from grandparents to a baby.
A set of four small world people with differing abilities is available from Heron, priced Pounds12.95 (tel:0800 373249). The set represents both genders and different ethnic groups.
Undo the jacket of Take Apart Doll (Galt, Pounds32.95, tel: 08702 424477) to reveal his skelton and removable internal organs. Look for his brain under his mop of hair!
White, black and mixed-race fabric dolls (NES Arnold, Pounds22.95 each, tel:0870 6000 192) come dressed with zips, poppers, buttons and laces for children to fasten and unfasten and develop their skills in dressing.
Doll accessories
Wesco's baby bathtub (51 * 28 * 14cm and priced Pounds10.50) comes with lots of bathtime essentialsm from a towel and talc to a sponge, a potty and obligatory little yellow duck. Also in the Wesco range are a doll's doctor's case (Pounds17.80) and feeding and baby care case (Pounds5.40).
Doll accessories from NES Arnold include a set of elbow crutches (24cm long) and leg supports 9Pounds26.95 per set) that fit on to a doll with Velcro tabs and a wheelchair suitable for a doll about 16in high (36.95).
Human anatomy
Body tunics are a fun way to introduce children to the human anatomy. The organ tunic (Pounds69.95) from LFC (0800 616621) comes with a 3D ribcage, detachable appendix and eight organs and labels, while its skeleton tunic (Pounds59.95) comes with six embroidered and labels. You can also create your own skeleton from LFC's Bag of Bones(Pounds79.95), which has 20 bones and labels. All are aimed at Key Stage 1 and 2 children but should prove a hit in the nursery.
Inside/outside cylinders is a set of five cylinders that stack like Russian dolls and show a boy and a girl in five stages:clothes, unclothed, the circulatory system, digestive system and skeleton (Galt, Pounds16.95 per set).
Skin tone resources
Step by step has a variety of resources in different skin tones, including dolly pegs (Pounds8.95 per pack), craft paper (Pounds2.99 per pack), Plasticolour modelling clay (Pounds5.70 per pack), hand shapes (Pounds2.45 per pack), wonderfoam (Pounds9.95 per pack) and skin tone shakers (Pounds9.95 per pack).
Puzzle
My Body puzzle (Hope, Pounds6.95, tel:08702 414400) is a 24-piece jigsaw (39 * 29.5cm) showing the front and back of a boy.
Software
Take yor pick of facial features to create to funny faces with Brillian't Face Paint (CD-Rom for Acorn or Windows, Pounds36, from Granada Learning, tel: 0161 827 2927). You can even make you face talk.
It includes male and female faces and a choice of four skin colours.
Become a human body explorer with My Amazing Human Body (Dorling Kindersley, CD-Rom for Windows and Mac, Pounds17.02)
This interactive journey through the human body with Seemore Skinless is designed for children aged seven to 11 but older children within the Foundation Stage should find the bold artwork interesting.
Non-fiction
Introducing the theme of hygiene with imaginative humour is Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom's wash, scrub, brush, part of Frank Watts' Wonderwise series dedicated to introducing basic concepts of in an entertaining and unusual way (Pounds10.99 hb, Pounds4.99 pb, Pounds14.99 big book).
* best buy reader offer *
We have ten copies of Wash, scrub, brush,! by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom (Franklin Watts, Pounds4.99) to give away to Nursery Topics readers. Send your name and address on the back of an envelope or postcard to the address on Page 3.
Winners will be the first ten drawn on 1 February.
A first book all about you - Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes,
written by Judy Hindley and illustrated by Brita Granstrom (Walker Books, Pounds4.99), is a delight exploring body parts and physical actions through 'chunky' illustrated children and fun lively language.
Lift-the-flap book Outside-in, by Clare Smallman and illustrated by Edwina Riddell (Frances Lincoln, Pounds5.99), provides a fun way to discover how our bodies work.
The workings of te human body are explore in Belitha's Press's Body Works series - Breathing, Eating, Keeping Fit and the Senses (pounds7.99 hb, Pounds3.99 pb or Pounds15.99 big book).
Although the series is aimed at five-to seven-year-olds, younger children should enjoy the bright and clear photographs and illustrations.
All About Me by Debbie Mackinnon with photographs by Anthea Sieveking (Frances Lincoln, Pounds4.99) and Let's hop and skip from TwoCan's My turn series (Pounds4.99) both explore physical activity to help children learn about their bodies.
Books on Hindu Festivals such as A World of Festivals - Divali (Evans Brothers, Pounds8.99), should include pictures of hands painted in mendhi style (see Activity 2, page 10).
Fiction
But Martin! by June Counsel (Picture Corgi, Pounds3.99) compares the appearances of four boys and girls - and their new friend Martin, a bright green Martian.
In the Boy Who Lost his Bellybuttton by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross (Red Fox, Pounds4.99), neither giraffe, nor warthog, nor elephant nor zebra have the missing bellybutton, because they each have one of their own.
God made you and 'made you just right' is the message in You are very Special, written by Su Box and illustrated by Susie Poole (Liuon Books, Pounds4.99). The mirror at the back let's children see just how special they are.
Award-winning Something Else by Kathryn Cave and Chris Riddell (Picture Puffins, Pounds4.99) tackles the themes of rejection and acceptance of our differences. The strange little character Something Else doesn't fit in - though he really tries to - then an even stranger creature turns up wanting to be his friend.
In I don't eat toothpaste anymore!, written by Karen King and illustrated by Ltne Willey (Tamarind, Pounds4.25), a child delights in the things she can do because she's 'big now'.
Don't forget the 'classic' Funnybones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (Puffin, Pounds4.99).
More information
* For more information on Braille books, tactile books and resources, see Extension ideas, at the end of the hands activities on page 11.
* For information on the signing language Makaton and details of training courses, contact the Makaton Vocabulary project, on 01276 61390, its training office on 01276 681368, or email mvdp@makaton.org.
