Richard Scarry's Best First Book Ever

Rating:
Summary: Too cluttered
Review: I am a big fan of Richard Scary's and we have a broad collection of his "Best Ever" books and videos, but this is the single item that I feel isn't done well. First of all, it is so large it's unwieldy with even one small child in your lap. But the real problem is in the layout. There are 2 kinds of pages: a single large picture that contains small items, like a large house with characters and activities within it, or a big white sheet with 40 or 50 small individual pictures crammed in. The house type are great, but regrettably few. The majority are the second, and so cluttered that it is very difficult for younger preschoolers--much less babies--to differentiate between images. The effect is a wild cacophony of confusing colors, cars, cutlery, and emotional little pigs cluttering the pages.

My family much prefers Scary's "Best Storybook Ever." Smaller (at about 10" by 7" instead of 12" by 10") but much thicker, this book is easier to manage in size and matter. I disagree with its recommendation for only slightly older children, because it still contains colors, numbers, shapes, animals, counting, manners, emotions, activities, months of the year, and the alphabet, but this time with more spacing and order. I think all it is missing from "First Book" is body parts. A collection of little storybooks about the above subjects, it has fewer and clearer concepts per page. In addition, "Storybook" also contains 82 actual character stories for the older preschooler/younger grade-schooler, as well as a good collection of Mother Goose rhymes. "Best Storybook Ever" will grow with your child, teach your child, and entertain your child much better than "Best First Book Ever" will.

Rating:
Summary: My Fav When I Was Little!
Review: I had several Richard Scarry books when I was teeny tiny, and I remember loving each one! I am now 29 and about to have my first child and was so excited to come across this book. It will be a great addition to my collection that my mother has saved from when I was a child. I can't wait to share this book with my little one. I hope you and yours enjoy Mr. Scarry's line of children's books as well.

Rating:
Summary: My Fav When I Was Little!
Review: I had several Richard Scarry books when I was teeny tiny, and I remember loving each one! I am now 29 and about to have my first child and was so excited to come across this book. It will be a great addition to my collection that my mother has saved from when I was a child. I can't wait to share this book with my little one. I hope you and yours enjoy Mr. Scarry's line of children's books as well.

Rating:
Summary: Daugher loves it!
Review: My 3 year old recieved this as a birthday gift and she loves to look at all the busy things going on it it! Its one of my favorites too!

Rating:
Summary: This Book is Fabulous!!
Review: My daughter is 2 and absolutely LOVES this book! She's learned so much from it!! Every night this is the book she wants to read! What I love about it is everytime we read it she learns something new--the latest she's learned is the 12 months! I recommend this to everyone---it's also a GREAT gift!

Rating:
Summary: This Book is Fabulous!!
Review: My daughter is 2 and absolutely LOVES this book! She's learned so much from it!! Every night this is the book she wants to read! What I love about it is everytime we read it she learns something new--the latest she's learned is the 12 months! I recommend this to everyone---it's also a GREAT gift!

Rating:
Summary: A Great story book; classic Richard Scarry
Review: our daughter, who is 17 months, requests this book at least once a day. she has learned many of the action words, in addition to identifying pictures. the 'scenes' organize an infant's thoughts to associate the pictures with the backgrounds. this book is outstanding.

Rating:
Summary: Best Kids' Books Ever!
Review: This book and the First Word Book were my first Richard Scarry books, and two of the first books I ever had. They were wonderful! Each page is full of detailed illustrations of everyday items and their names. I had most of the Richard Scarry books, and they really helped me to learn vocabulary, and quite a few important lessons on behavior along the way! Now I am a mommy, and I can't wait for my little girl to be old enough to get her Best First Book Ever!

Rating:
Summary: Best Kids' Books Ever!
Review: This book and the First Word Book were my first Richard Scarry books, and two of the first books I ever had. They were wonderful! Each page is full of detailed illustrations of everyday items and their names. I had most of the Richard Scarry books, and they really helped me to learn vocabulary, and quite a few important lessons on behavior along the way! Now I am a mommy, and I can't wait for my little girl to be old enough to get her Best First Book Ever!

Rating:
Summary: Not best FIRST book
Review: This is a great book, I agree. However, it is not the best FIRST book unless your child isn't seeing any books until age 2. My daughter just turned one, and for her the pictures are still too busy. Also, it's not a board book so she can't "read" this book herself without risking the pages. I know we'll enjoy it later, but for now this book has been put away.