Durability Four stars. They are made out of hard plastic. Only time will tell if the paint is durable or not.
Play quality Three stars. A big part of the fun of Lego characters is taking them apart and creating new characters. My granddaughter loves to switch heads, bodies, capes and accessories. Unfortunately, these are brutally difficult to put together and probably just as hard to get apart. Switching the pieces is not something a child will be able to do. They are also quite stiff and it is very difficult to move the arms. Needs even more diversity.
Safety Five stars. They seem pretty safe but are definitely not for children under 3 years of age.
Age interest Three stars. Children will definitely miss the fun of taking them apart and be frustrated by their rigidity. Accessories seem random. Where’s the torch for the statue of liberty and the paint brush for the artist?
Storage and portability Four stars. They are small enough to put in a pocket or packsack however they should be stored in their own little bag. Small pieces would be easy to lose.
Price Five stars. At less than $2 each for the final cost they are a steal.
This unique picture book isn’t really a story. It is a book of reassurance similar to Robert Munch’s Love You Forever or Billy Crystal’s I Already Know I Love You but it takes a different approach. It is the kind of book you read to a child and they later refer to on their own whenever they are feeling down.
From that point on the author and illustrator take the reader on a fantastical journey into a paradise island specifically designed for the child. The idea is to remind oneself to be calm, live in the moment, and use one’s imagination to reassure oneself. The title is a clever twist of words, Isle of You. Say it quickly and it sounds like I love you.
This could become a game for the parent and child to play, or the child to do alone when needed. Imagine oneself in a beautiful place. It doesn’t have to be the way the book portrays the island. The child can eventually build his or her own island with whatever appeals to them.
The illustrations by Jaime Kim are bright and colorful but yet gentle and dreamlike. They glow with happiness.
This is a wonderful book for any child but especially for one who has difficulty with intense emotions. It may help the child develop a strategy that could be of benefit for life.
A well-written informative review of one of my books.
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