Alrightgames: Moomin's Tale

Moomin's Tale

1999(!) / Game Boy Color emulator game / 1 player

*

She started watching the wholesome yet mildly unsettling '90s cartoon, and a near-lifetime's experience didn't deter me from promptly seeking out its inevitably crap interactive cash-in companion.

She gave up on the second screen. Hopefully she'll learn this lesson for both of us.

Alrightgames: Hello Kitty – Happy Party Pals

Hello Kitty: Happy Party Pals

2005 / Game Boy Advance emulator game / 1 player

*

Who needs fun when you can have recreational planning stress?  Being able to accidentally delete essential items from your inventory is a particular stand-out feature.

Alrightgames: The Magic Key – Story Building

The Magic Key: Story Building

2000 / Educational jigsaw puzzles / 1+ players

**

The concept was more interesting than the execution, but we can always stick our own pictures over the top for stories about ponies, poo and wee.

Alrightgames: Filly Fantasy VI

Filly Fantasy VI

2017 / Super Nintendo rom hack / 1 player

***

The fan-favourite Final Fantasy with a frivolous Pony makeover that nevertheless made it more appealing to a four year old. Until things slowed down before too long and we got a bit stuck and bored. I don't remember making it much further on the normal game either.

Babyliography CLXIX

Abie Longstaff and Lauren Beard, The Fairytale Hairdresser and Aladdin

2017 / Library book / 32 pages

**

We had fun with some of the less well-thought-out art, like the giant who Aimee observed was way too large to even fit inside his castle.

Annemarie Young and Nick Schon, Read with Biff, Chip & Kipper: Kipper's Rhymes and Other Stories

2015 / Library book / 98 pages

**

The appeal of recreational phonics is wearing thin, but there are also mazes. It's ironic that these easy-readers have the most complex titles and credits, making sure the original creators are recognised for bringing forth these deep and innovative characters.

David McKee, Elmer's Walk

2018 / Library book / 32 pages

**

Easy for pretend patchwork elephants to say. They don't have to work, do they?

David Bedford and Elaine Field, Ready for Reading: My Turn!

2000 / Library book / 32 pages

**

It's a Level 1 reader, so, you know, it wasn't gripping, but she liked it and we'll have more.

Kes Gray and Mary Mcquillan, Twoo Twit

2006 / Preschool book / 32 pages

*

A mean story with no comeuppance, because school's on the bullies' side.

Babyliography CLXVIII

Jess French and Becca Hall, Pets and Their People: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Animals – Whether You Have One or Not!

2023 / Library book / 72 pages

***

An informative assortment.

Zanna Davidson and Nuno Alexandre Vieira, Fairy Unicorns: Star Spell

2017 / Library book / 112 pages

***

Her first chapter book – paced at a chapter or two each bedtime – she was gripped by its generic adventure and is eager to read more. I may have to clear out my bookshelves.

Rosie Dickins and Maria Cristina Lo Cascio, Usborne Stories of Unicorns

2006 / Library book / 48 pages

**

Vintage Ladybird vibes and weird beards.

Anne Jankéliowitch and Delphine Chedru, Animals at Night: A Glow-in-the-Dark Book

2017 / Library book / 40 pages

***

The gimmick overpowered the educational angle. It's not like you can read it with the lights off, anyway.

Zanna Davidson and Nuno Alexandre Vieira, Fairy Unicorns: Magic Forest

2017 / Library book / 112 pages

***

Backtracking from the finale to the debut, it turns out this is a spin-off of the presumably completely different Fairy Ponies series. So we also have those adventures to look forward to when the unicorns run out, even if they don't have horns.

Babyliography CLXVII

Nigel Kitching, Lew Stringer and artists, Sonic the Comic, Volume 2: Enter Knuckles

1994-95 (collected 2016) / Ebook

****

I used to read these childhood favourites to my brother when he was the same age, and now my daughter similarly enjoys their extrapolations on the familiar games, particularly the simulation of Sonic and Tails' deaths.

Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig, Angelina Ballerina: Dancing Day

2021 / Library book / 14 pages

*

Self-explanatory. Hope this series doesn't catch on.

Claire Freedman and Russell Julian, Watch Out! There's a Monster About!

2016 / Library book / 32 pages

***

Not afraid to be slightly creepy, and a nice little message.

Nick Sharratt, Don't Put Your Finger in the Jelly, Nelly!

2006 / Library book / 32 pages

**

More unmusical Nick Sharratt rhymes.

Polly Dunbar, Red Red Red

2019 / Library book / 32 pages

**

Another handy, barely-camouflaged anger management manual.