Molly's Toys

Deborah Dowson is a children’s librarian in Caledon East, Ontario.

Designed for infants, these titles are presented in a glossy board-book
format with soft scalloped edges that make them easy for a baby to grip
and hold. They are thinner than most board books and yet quite sturdy.

Each title follows in the same pattern. Familiar objects such as food,
clothes, and toys are presented. Clean, simple designs and minimal
detail are used in each illustration to provide clear identification of
the object. Objects that are shown individually are brought together
with Molly on the final page. The child is asked to find the objects.
For instance, the question put to the reader of Molly’s Clothes is
“Zip! Zip! Can you find everything Molly needs to dress?”

The books have a playful style and a pleasing tone. The colors are soft
and bright, and the main character is appealing. The game of searching
for the objects will help to build recognition, identification,
concentration, and memory skills. Recommended.