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CM . . .
. Volume X Number 16 . . . . April 8, 2004
Like My First Magic Games Book, this volume, also in board book format, contains eight board games which this time use animals as their connecting theme. All but the first game, "Flutter By," take up a double page spread. Each game contains a statement of "The aim of the game" as well as generally clear instructions on "How to play." Parents who have children who dislike games which are more competitive might want to encourage a modification to the playing instructions of "Bone Hunt" and "Monkey Tree" which allow competitors to "steal" the "bones" or "bananas" already secured by other players. Only two of the games, the aforementioned "Flutter By" and "Monkey Tree," are limited to two players while the other six can involve up to four players. The opening "Flutter By" is the simplest game while "Lily Pads" and "Monkey Tree" are variants of "Snakes and Ladders" with dragon flies and frogs or vines and "slip" spots acting as the substitutes for moving ahead or being required to move back. "Duckling Dash" and "Dino Race" call for players to move their playing pieces from the beginning to the end while possibly encountering spaces that will either reward or penalize them. The three remaining games, "Top Cat," Bone Hunt" and "Swim Little Fish," will appeal more to the older end of the recommended age range as they are slightly more challenging, especially "Swim Little Fish" which requires developing and then applying some strategy. "Flutter By" only occupies one page because its facing page, the inside front cover, has been converted into a large envelope for storing the 28 cardboard playing pieces and the spinner (which requires a pencil to be used as its stem). Parents who don't want to hear their children complaining about missing/lost pieces would be advised to encourage their offspring to store these items in a sealable plastic bag instead. For most games, a die works better than the spinner which is awkward for younger hands to manipulate. As with the earlier games book, this volume's loose playing pieces perhaps limit its being part of school or public libraries; however, My First Animal Games Book is a most economical addition to home game centres. Its portability also recommends it as an item to be taken along on long car trips. Highly Recommended.Dave Jenkinson teaches courses in children's and adolescent literature at the Faculty of Education, the University of Manitoba.
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