by Pleasant T. Rowland
Since toddlers often greet the arrival of a sibling with the warmth of a Doberman, this hands-on primer aims to make the older tyke feel less threatened and shows how to care for the newborn.
The toddler can pull a tab and see Baby's feet kick in a bath or help dress the baby by opening or closing the cardboard diaper and undershirt. (The book comes in two editions, one featuring a white baby, the other a black infant.) Your 2-year-old may try to rip the tabs out or tear the blanket on one page, but better that than laying hands on a new brother or sister. (Pleasant Company, $19.95; 800-845-0005)
by Dennis Smith; illustrated by Joanne Maffia
Back on the urban front, New York City fire fighter-novelist Dennis Smith (Report from Engine Company 82) offers a vibrant, action-packed story along the lines of The Little Engine That Could. Rusty Engine No. 4, once the company's pride and joy, has fallen into disuse. But when "almost a full city block" begins to burn, No. 4 is recruited once more. "I liked it when Firefighter Jim took the hose and the engine saved the city," said Nick, 4. "Also, the part when this guy holded the hose with the other guy." Kate, 9, was onto deeper meaning. "I know the moral," she said. "Just stick with what you have." (Doubleday, $9.95-ages 4-8)
GAMES
MS. PAC-MAN
Say, haven't we met before?
Sure enough, it's the old video-game coquette, back now in Nintendo format. The game is still as frustrating and mind-numbingly diverting as ever, and this version comes with 36 different mazes, or just about enough to last the average player 14 or 15 years.
This game is, by present-day videogame standards, relatively nonviolent, and those given to nostalgia will be pleased to note that Pac-Man himself makes guest appearances in the two-player configuration.
Can Space Invaders be far behind? (Tengen, $39.95)
(Thad Novak, 10, says, "I'm a fan of shoot-'em-up games, and this is way too tame. But that's not to say it isn't challenging, especially if you use the 'Strange' setting for the mazes.")
V'BALL
A one-, two-or four-player Nintendo version of beach volleyball, this game strikes a fairly realistic variation on the actual sport as it might be executed by four players who can all jump like Michael Jordan.
Players are represented by volley-bailers with various skills—"Al and John" are called "former soldiers [who] have a lot of power but have poor defensive technique and are pretty slow."
The two-player function—two humans against the computer—allows for more real teamwork than most Nintendo games, and it's tough enough to challenge most nonobsessed videogame fanatics. (Nintendo, $39.95)
(T.N. says, "This game is just too simple.")
- Contributors:
- Andrew Abrahams,
- Susan Toepfer,
- Ralph Novak.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
