tracmd's Full Review: Baby Einstein Mirror Me! Board Book
Let's face it. Most babies love looking at themselves. They are fascinated by their cute little faces. Even before they understand that the face staring back at them is theirs, they enjoy mirrors. I heard about how baby's love to look at themselves when my daughter was a newborn. So, on a trip to Babies R Us, I picked up a copy of the Baby Einstein Mirror Me! Board Book by Julie Aigner-Clark and Nadeem Zaidi. I believe I paid list price at $6.99.
This book is nearly a square, at 6.7" x 6.3". It is twelve pages long. The cover of the book says ages 0-9 months. Oddly enough, Amazon.com says "Reading Level: 4-8." I don't believe that this book is meant for a preschooler. I think it's safe to say that it is designed for a young baby.
On the cover is a big bold green frog with a long pink curled up tongue sticking out of his mouth. He is holding a red framed round mirror. This is cute because it give the baby a little inkling as to what is inside. Each pair of pages is like the next in format. The left page has a big bold bright and colorful Baby Einstein Character, with some verbiage about the character.
For example, the first page says "Bard can open his eyes big and wide." The print is in large black font. I believe Bard is a lizard. On the opposite page is a mirror image of Bard. However, in lieu of his head is a big round mirror. Well, it's not a real mirror obviously, just a reflective surface that is like a mirror. On top of the mirror it says "WOW!"
The next two pages have Webster, a bright yellow smiling son. Webster has been my daughter's favorite, and she loves (even to this day) to smile at him. The page says "Webster has a sunny smile." The mirror page says "Say, 'Cheese!'"
On the following page is Frog, who is apparently the same funny frog on the cover. You are asked to "Look at Frog stick out his long, pink tongue." On the mirror page is says "Blah!" The following page has Cow, a friendly gray cow with bright pink ears and pink cheeks. I guess Cow's cheeks are so large because "Cow puffs his cheeks full of air." On the mirror page it says "Puff-and blow!" I would always like to imitate Cow on these pages, for it would make my daughter laugh.
Next is Jane. Jane is a monkey in a green (safari?) outfit and hat. Jane is pulling the sides of her mouth and sticking her tongue out. Not exactly the type of behavior I'd want my daughter to emulate per se, but this was perfectly fine for her baby days. This page states "Jane makes a super silly face." The mirror page says "Hello, little monkey!"
Finally, the last character is Violet, a violet colored mouse. Violet has her hands over her eyes. "Peekaboo, Violet!" The mirror page shows Violet's hands out as the print says "There you are!" My daughter also really loved the Peekaboo part too.
The size of what I will call the mirror is perfect for a little baby to see himself or herself. Even before my daughter really started staring at herself in mirrors around the house, she loved looking at herself in the mirrors of this book. Though she doesn't look at this book much anymore since she is older, she really enjoyed it for several months. She loved the character's faces, looking at the reflections of herself, and occasionally seeing me in the mirror make silly faces at her. I like that it is an interactive book, and that it helps very young babies get used to books. This was one of my daughter's very first non-fabric books. It was definitely a good purchase.
Please note: I received feedback from djningr that she has the same book, but it has different words. I went to Amazon.com to check out what version they have. When I used the Search Inside feature, they showed me "Bard can open his eyes big and wide." The top of the screen says, "You are viewing the Board Book edition from Hyperion (2002)." Apparently, Amazon.com is selling the 2003 Scholastic edition, which is different. My review is of the 2002 Hyperion version. Thanks for the head's up, Jackie!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 6.99 Type of Toy: Baby Toy
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
Baby Einstein's Mirror Me! Board Book contains a mirror on every spread and teaches babies and young children parts of the face in playful ways. By in...More at BabyEarth
Can you stick out your tongue like Frog? Puff up your cheeks like Cow? Scrunch up your nose like Jane the Monkey? Look in the mirror and try! This bus...More at Toys R Us
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.