Made of heavy, durable, and colorful plastic, Words and Sounds Abound is an interactive toy modeled to work like a book. The blue, seven-inch-square "cover" features a joyful Tigger (is he ever otherwise?) waving hello. Inside the covers you'll find eight plastic "pages", each one featuring four different objects accompanied by Winnie-the-Pooh characters. Outside the edges of these pages run yellow buttons to press, one next to each picture.

For instance, the top picture on the first "page" is of Winnie-the-Pooh eating honey. The word HONEY is written there over the picture, and when you push the corresponding button, Tigger's voice says, "Thissis is... the HONEY," followed by a slurping sound. Push the same button again, and he'll say, "The honey is... YELLOW."

The first page features Food, then you'll find Vehicles, Animals, Around the House, Toys, Night Time, and Musical Instruments. Pressing any button prompts Tigger to tell you the word next to it, with a sound effect that relates to the object. He'll tell you its color when the button is pushed a second time. As the pages are turned, the buttons will reset to the new pictures.

While this is targeted to the toddler set, it's a toy that will grow with your child: while it's able to entertain a baby, it can still challenge him or her many months later. It's the back page that provides the extra value here, where four choices allow a child to "play" with Tigger, as he sets them any of four challenges:

1. "Help Tigger Find the..." Tigger asks you to find an object somewhere in the book. Turn the pages to find it, then press its button. If you're right, he says, "Hurray! You found the (whatever it is)". If you're wrong, he tells you what you've found: "That's the drum," then encourages you to try again: "Help me find the PLANE."

2. "Find the Colored Object" sends your child looking for any object with the color Tigger asks.

3. "What Makes This Sound?" gives you the sound effect for an object in the book, and Tigger asks you to find it. While Tigger offers his "Hurray"s and "Thank you"s for finding the right ones, these aren't always easy... the sound effects for cookies (crunching) and honey (slurping) sound a bit alike, and after all, honey doesn't really make a sound. But of course, there are no points deducted for trying! All a child needs to do is try again.

4. "What Word Starts With The Letter...?" offers a letter to search for, among the 28 objects in the book. To make things easier on the very young children playing with this toy, 6 of those words begin with "B"; in fact, several initial letters are repeated, helping children who are just beginning to learn the alphabet.

Words and Sounds Abound has several features that parents will appreciate. Its whole shape has rounded corners and edges, and bright but not blinding colors. The buttons are large and sensitive to the touch, so that parents won't need to help little fingers (unless they want to). The covers and pages are a bit stiff to open and close - while they move easily, they can't fall shut on tiny fingers.

(Unfortunately, this last feature creates the toy's only flaw: if a page is left standing straight up - neither lying to the left or right on the covers - the book behaves as though it the page is lying flat to the left, which can be confusing to a baby who pushes what appears to be a "Fish" button, to be told it's a green banjo by the giggling Tigger.)

To save on batteries (which are included) and parental nerves, there is a tiny On/Off switch on the back. The battery cover requires a screwdriver to remove it, and all screws are recessed, adding to the safety of the toy.

Personally, I must admit that I can't stand Tigger - especially his "Whoo Hoo-hoo-hoo!". As a model for speaking, he certainly isn't the best choice: he lisps and stutters. But, because of the good quality of the sound, the variety of questions and responses, and the reasonable volume level, this toy has never gotten on my nerves. It's also small enough to fit into a carry-all bag when we travel, and has no separate pieces to pick up or get lost, while shopping or visiting Granny's house.

This is one of those presents that deserves not a Thank-you card, but Thank-you-Chocolates: Cindy, if you're reading this, they're on the way!

A note about the title:

While I was writing this, I was serenaded the entire time by Tigger's voice: "Thissis is, the BOAT. Thissis is, the TRICYCLE. (Ding ding!) The tricycle is... BLUE. Thissis is..."

Oy.

Recommended:
Yes

Amount Paid (US$): gift
Type of Toy: Educational
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months