Chouette Publishing released a new series of Caillou books based on the Caillou television show earlier this year, offering the same simple drawings, uncluttered conversations, and practical lessons as the show in four different formats - lift-the-flap books (
My First Vacation), a single-volume collection of stories (
My Book of Great Adventures), a boxed set of five small hardcover stories, and a puzzle/board book (
ABC Train).
Although these books are intended primarily for preschoolers,
ABC Train would be fun for younger toddlers learning their ABCs and how to to assemble simple puzzles. The book is an extra thick board book with pop-out puzzle pieces that fit in alphabetical order, with an animal associated with each letter (jaguar for J, koala for K). The pieces fit together easily and store securely in the book. It's labeled as not intended for kids under three (maybe the choking hazard would come from puzzle pieces falling apart when chewed?) so use your discretion and parenting judgment here.
My First Vacation is a great book for helping kids grapple with the concept of taking a plane ride. As long as your child doesn't expect to get to meet the pilot and sit in the cockpit, they'll get something worthwhile from this book in advance of, or in the act of, taking a trip.
The
Caillou Boxed Set,
My Book of Great Adventures, and
My First Vacation are clearly aimed towards the preschool set. These books teach a small life lesson in each story. Children who enjoy the quiet, gentle Caillou show will enjoy these books!
- Jeremiah
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Caillou (the show) taught my son to whine and throw tantrums. He’s been banned and given the codename The Cranky Canuck. Maybe the books are better, but I’ll never know.
Hmm. Our daughter’s viewing of the Caillou show occurs at a grandmother’s house, so I’ve never seen a full episode, and he was always pretty placid in the scenes I happened to catch. Does he lash out at and hit inanimate objects that hurt him, like doorways and towel racks? Because that would explain a lot.
We’ve never seen an episode of the TV show, but have had some Caillou books we got from the library, and I’ve liked what i’ve seen there.
I’m very interested in the puzzle book for my 2 year old so I’ll go take a look at it in the store.
(I’ve been finding a lot of people seem to be putting 3+ on their toys when some of those same toys are more interesting to a 2 year old than a 3 year old. Its kind of a lazy way to avoid certain regulations, I think. So I’ve been using momma judgement.)
PS kind of like the playground equipment that are labelled for “2 to 5 years old” but my son had mastered at about 20 months.
Caillou is banned at our house too. Whiney little brat.
Caillou regularly cries about not getting his way and often fights with his sister and even his friends. Of course, the parents step in and reason with him and there is some resolution, but the resolution phase has NO effect on children as far as I can tell. They just see the tantrum or the sibling conflict as being something that Caillou does and then emulate it.