Learning & Development: First books

Now out in paperback is this wonderful story of a trip on a steam train. Jump aboard with your magic ticket for a journey into the jungle, outer space and under water, and in the company of lots of interesting fellow passengers.

This book/CD is a winner! The illustrations are chaotic in a fun and endearing way. The rhyming text is strong and rhythmic, and combined with repetition ('The whistle's blowing, quick - jump aboard!'), it will have children keen to join in. The CD features authentic sound effects, including a real steamtrain whistle.

Barefoot gives this book a 'read together' range of birth to four and a 'read alone' range of four to seven.

Nappy Duck and Potty Piggy, by Bernette Ford and Sam Williams, Boxer Books, board book, £4.99

Ducky wants Piggy to come out and play, but he can't - he is on the potty. Roles are soon reversed as Ducky kicks aside his cold, wet nappy and heads for the potty, just as Piggy wants to go out and play.

This is a lovely little read-aloud 'nappy-to-potty' story, with charming characters and simple text that will entertain children, as well as teach them about toilet routines.

Isabella's Toy Box - Jigsaw Puzzle Book, by Emma Thomson, Hodder Children's Books, £9.99

The antics of Isabella's various toys appear on one page, with a jigsaw on the other. One toy is feeling poorly and is being looked after by his friends, some are having a tea party, a group is playing hide-and-seek.

Disappointingly, perhaps, there is no real attempt to link the different scenes, so there is limited enjoyment in reading the book as a story. On the plus side, however, the characters and illustrations are appealing, the jigsaws are sturdy and well-made, and the pictures on the jigsaw appear both on the opposite page and underneath the jigaw themselves. There are seven nine-piece puzzles in all, and they should provide carer and young child with hours of fun as together, they make the puzzles and talk about the characters and their escapades.