tracmd's Full Review: Julie Aigner-Clark - Violet's House
When my daughter was around 10 months old, I realized that it was time to expand her library. She has loved books for as long as I can remember, and "Touch-and-Feel" books seemed to offer her a lot of enjoyment. During a browsing trip through the screens of Amazon.com, I discovered the Baby Einstein book entitled Violet's House by Julie Aigner-Clark and Nadeem Zaidi.
The book is considered a Board Book and is on the large side at 11.3" x 10.1" x .4". It is ten pages long and the shipping weight is 12.8 ounces. The proposed reading level is "Baby-Preschool," indicating that it is meant to be read to a child. I was immediately drawn to the bright, colorful cover. There is a picture of a violet colored mouse on the front, standing on the porch of what is presumably her house. The yellow house, with it's blue steps, purple roof with dormers, and window boxes, appears welcoming as Violet is standing in it's doorway. She is waving, as if to say, "Come on in!" I decided to take her up on it, and purchased the book at Amazon.com for $9.99. The book was part of a larger order, so I was able to avoid shipping charges.
Though I had already know the size of the book when I ordered it, I was still impressed with its heft when it arrived. Of course, it became apparent that no small child around the age of 10 months would be able to lug it around. I decided to pick up my little one, put her on my lap, and we begin to explore Violet's house together.
When you turn to the first page, you enter Violet's living room. The words of the book rhyme. There are eight lines for every two pages, broken out in pairs. For example, when you enter Violet's living room, the book states:
"Come into Violet's living room,
And touch her big round chair!
The curtains, blown in the summer's wind,
Are smooth like Violet's hair."
In the living room, as in each room, there are several different textures for a baby to feel. In this room, the big purple chair has a textured fabric back. One of the curtain panels is a silky blue fabric, Violet is wearing a red, knit sweater that feels just like one to the touch, and the poodle has a fluffy white head. There are many other visual facets of the room, ranging from birds standing in the window sill, to flowers in a vase on the mantle. There is so much to look at. In true Baby Einstein fashion, the pictures are bold, colorful, and pleasing to a baby. My daughter instantly smiled and began putting her hands on the different textures.
The next two pages are of Violet's kitchen. Violet is sitting at the table enjoying her cereal, while her mommy washes dishes. On these pages, the words encourage you to feel the smooth plastic cup that flowers rest in, a rough orange in the fruit bowl, the squishy sponge that Violet's mommy is using (and yes, it really is made of sponge), and the reflective silver toaster.
As you turn the page, you enter Violet's playroom. There is a lot to see here, as Violet's playroom is packed with toys. On these pages, you can touch the soft fake fur of her teddy bear, lift and feel her blue fabric apron, and touch the sticky finger paints that Violet is holding. The finger paints are sticky indeed. In fact, when my daughter looked at this book for the first couple of weeks, she was a bit put off by the stickiness. But, she was intrigued none the less and kept touching them anyway.
Next, you enter Violet's bathroom. There is a white terry towel hanging on the door, that feels very much like a towel. The rug, a purple oval, is soft and smooth. There is a rubber ducky in the bathtub, that feels like hard rubber. What is different about this room, is that in addition to touch, the book also introduces smell. Violet is putting toothpaste on her toothbrush. You can touch the toothpaste, which just feels smooth, and you can:
"Smell the paste on Violet's brush-
It's minty, fresh, and green."
There was an initial faint mint smell to the toothpaste, but now that over eight months has passed, it has dissipated. Despite this, Violet's bathroom is still fun to explore.
The last pages show Violet's bedroom. Violet, standing in her slippers, is turning down the covers so she can get into bed while her mother stands behind her. She is in her purple PJ's and the pants are nice and soft. There is a big pink pillow on her bed which looks and feels quilted. Violet's dolly is also sitting on a beanbag. Her dolly's hair is made from red yarn, which my daughter liked to fiddle with immediately.
In summary, I really love this book for my daughter, due to its numerous textures, bold colors, sweet story, and many things to look at. As my daughter has gotten older, we are able to "play" with the book more. I say, "Can you show me where Violet's dolly is? What about the purple chair?" It helps with item and color identification. I now find that my daughter will like to point things out on her own and ask what they are. At 19 months, my daughter can carry this book over to me now, though it is still a bit tough for her. This book has been read many times over, and still shows no wear.
According to the back of the book, it is meant for children 9 months and up. As this the approximate age of my daughter when I gave it to her, and since she has enjoyed it so much, this seems like a great starting age for this book. It is a fun and educational book to read to a little one. My daughter also likes to occasionally put it on the floor and flip through it by herself. I would highly recommend this book for a young child.
Violet, a very curious young mouse, invites babies and toddlers into her home in this touch-and-feel book that guides readers to discover their own se...More at HotBookSale
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