Video Games (Gamer Baby)

PreS-K--A video game adventurer sets off on a quest. An overworld map guides her adventure through forests, a waterfall, and to a treasure island. The text is in second person, instructing the reader to grab a game controller and play. However, the book also acts as a dummy controller of sorts. Each page has buttons along the bottom, encouraging children to press them to make the character perform an action. The red button jumps, and the blue button ducks. This game prioritizes movement and exploration over violence. Pastel-colored illustrations feature white or lightly tanned characters with large, expressive faces and bold eyes. Woodland creatures and foes who are more cuddly than ferocious populate bouncy woodland landscapes. Instead of resembling game graphics, the art looks like illustrations that might appear in an accompanying strategy guide. Other titles in the "Gamer Baby" series are instructional (Chess), but even as an adventure, this does not resemble many modern games popular with children. VERDICT Where demand is high for video games, this could still spark imaginative play. Purchase where other titles in the series are popular.--Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA