cover image Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: A Lullaby Book with Lights and Music

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: A Lullaby Book with Lights and Music

Jannat Messenger, Jane Taylor. Aladdin Paperbacks, $11.95 (1pp) ISBN 978-0-689-71136-7

The afternoon fades, twilight descends and the dark of night settles over a snug, stucco house, which is viewed at first from a distance, then up close. The last spread is a pop up of a child's room. All the while a small light blinks through the cut-out holes in the pagesthe twinkling star, of course. Readers can sing right along, since stanzas of the song comprise the text of the book, and an electronic accompaniment plays ad infinitum, or until sleep comes or until the computer chip inside the binding of the book wears out. It's an odd combination: pastoral scenes, a tinny song and cheap, flickering lightin short, a gimmick with limited appeal, even in the electronic 80's. Ages 3-6. (August)