Babyliography CXCVIII

Unknown, My Little Pony: Favourite Stories

1988 / Hardback / 93 pages

**

Summing up her less-favoured OG era more economically than another batch of annuals when the bedtime mood seems right for comfy blandness, this is much more what you'd expect for a 1980s toy ponies tie-in than its often traumatising animated counterpart.

Heather Nuhfer and Amy Mebberson, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Volume 2

2013 / Ecomics / 104 pages

****

Collecting all 100-plus issues of the comic physically (even before all the spin-offs) would be a bit prohibitively expensive, but we can spend some screen time getting through these new episodes. This was a nicely spooky arc.

Zanna Davidson and Barbara Bongini, Fairy Ponies: Midnight Escape

2010 / Paperback / 96 pages

***

The progenitor to the more successful Fairy Unicorns series assumes readers will possess more enthusiasm and familiarity with real horses than your average magical unicorn fanatic, but she still enjoyed the story.

Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Christopher Beck, Frozen: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack – Easy Piano Songbook

2014 / Paperback / 72 pages

**

It was overly optimistic or arrogant of me to assume we'll ever be able to comprehend this when adding it to her eBay Christmas book bundle. We'll stick with watching the videos where the notes float slowly down the screen and failing to keep up.

Nigel Kitching and Richard Elson, Sonic the Comic: Running Wild

1996 / Ebook / 21 pages

*****

I forgot how drawn-out and convoluted the whole Super Sonic / Special Zone arc was that gripped me through the latter half of '96, but this berserk opening act is all you really need. She appreciated Amy being so prominent and wasn't fooled by the fake-out deaths.

Alrightreads: Shitty Sonic Books

Michael Teitelbaum and Glen Hanson, Sonic the Hedgehog

1993 / Audiobook / 64 pages

*

Another choose-your-own-lame-origin variant, this one surely wins for starting out with Sonic and Robotnik inexplicably growing up together, not even saving that up for the crap 'Kidz' prequel.

Art Mawhinney, Ken Penders and Mike Kanterovich, Sonic the Hedgehog: Look and Find

1994 / Ebook / 24 pages

**

Another American release from the classic period bogged down by mandatory Sally Acorn continuity, this makes for a less satisfying Where's Wally? rip-off than the British equivalents that focused exclusively on the games.

Unknown, Winning Game Tips for Sonic the Hedgehog

1994 / Ebook / 64 pages

**

This overpromising magazine mostly paraphrases the game manuals or imparts basic gameplay that anyone could figure out. Even the cheats are pathetically incomplete, the abundance of false facts making it clear that they were cashing in with minimal effort.

Michael Teitelbaum and Ron Zalme, Sonic & Knuckles

1995 / Audiobook / 64 pages

**

Genuinely intriguing in its prospect of adapting the classic game, though this relationship is kept as tenuous as possible, because it's not like a faithful narrative incorporating as much game as possible is exactly what every reader wants or anything. At least I got to grow up with Sonic the Comic's more ambitious take.

PapyrusFool, Sonic's road to the gold: Free Preview Chptrs 1-6

2023 / Audiobook

*

"Cream was watching Barney the dinosaur on YouTube, since PBS kids took it away a long time ago. Then I remembered that google said that Barney is evil. Well that was the time when I searched up if Chucky Cheez is evil. But I decided I had to save the girl so I put the chicken squad on disney junior."

At least they're taking a break from games for a bit, I shouldn't discourage them.

Alrightgames: Crankity

Crankity

2017 / Puzzle activity / 1 player

****

She picked up "factory game" quickly and moved up the levels with relative ease, which is fortunate, as those poor plastic cogs won't last long the way she's forcing them.

Alrightgames: Amy Rose in Sonic the Hedgehog

Amy Rose in Sonic the Hedgehog / Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Pink Edition / Sonic 3 & Amy Rose

2021–22 / Sega Mega Drive rom hacks / 1–2 players

****

I didn't want to buy a PS5-era console just so my daughter could play '90s Sonic games with the girl one as a playable character (complete with long-overdue Super form), and inevitably, fan hacks had us covered. Unfortunately, the inclusion of her distinctive mallet attack and the resulting need to use more than one action button was too much of an adjustment at this stage in my life and we stuck with the boys.

Alrightgames: My Little Pony Friendship Gardens

My Little Pony: Friendship Gardens

1998 / PC game / 1 player

**

I finally found a working version (one that crashes and asks me to insert the CD all the time meets my low bar for "working") of this elusive Generation 2 game before she grew out of its minimal cyberpet and activity offerings. The fluid pony animation holds up a lot better than the subsequent games' crap 3D models and static sprites. Now she wants a G2 toy, of course.

Alrightgames: Choose Your Own Adventure – The Magic of the Unicorn

Choose Your Own Adventure: The Magic of the Unicorn

1985 (revised 2017) / Adventure gamebook / 1 player

***

We'll probably persevere through the decision tree until we find that elusive unicorn, retracing our steps from the other good and bad endings arrived at through the author's random whims. Even this modernised revision forces the unfortunate reader to imagine themselves buried alive in a spider's nest and never discovered, so the dark '80s version must have been insane.

Alrightgames: Stella

Stella: Dixit Universe

2021 / Card/board game / 3-6 players

****

Dixit was always quite appealing in design but less in execution, but this less demanding word-association variant proved to be the cosy family bedtime game I'd hoped when boldly making it a Christmas present. Maybe it'll even spark some abstract dreams in us all. I hope the creepier cards stay away.

Alrightgames: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

2018 / Card game / 2-8 players

***

Simple, fun, pointless time filler. Not sure if this mantra will help her in life, but she's committed it to memory now. She lacked the familiar context of gorillas pounding their chests, which is a parenting fail on my part, but she compensates with narwhal knowledge.

Alrightgames: Light-up Dancing Mat

Light-up Dancing Mat

2022 / Electronic dance mat / 1+ dancers

***

It may be noisy and relentless in its limited instrumental repertoire, but at least it's good for tiring her out. I mean, getting her exercise and developing coordination. One of the tracks sounds like it's from a lost Dizzy game.

Alrightgames: Screwball Scramble Level 2

Screwball Scramble Level 2

2020 / Marble obstacle course / 1–2 players

***

I knew the first one was destined for re-donation when I was tempted by it in a charity shop, but luckily not before I spotted its implausible lock-on sequel, which was an irresistible Christmas present for the "this seems more for Dad" pile. Even more unreasonably difficult than the first, but that's the point, really.

Alrightgames: Solo Fluxx – Star Fluxx

Solo Fluxx: Star Fluxx

2022 / Solo card game / 1 player

**

Most of the appeal of Fluxx lies in the amused bewilderment of fresh-faced initiates, so while a solitaire rule variant gives veteran deck owners something to do, there isn't much point.

Alrightgames: Math Dice Jr. (DIY version)

Math Dice Jr. (DIY version)

2011 / Dice activity / 2 players

**

We had plenty of substitutable components available, so didn't need to invest several pounds on the real thing, which is lucky, since she got bored on the first round of dice rolls. I should have called it Unicorn Dice, didn't think.

Alrightgames: Avatar World

Avatar World

2022 / iPad game / 1 player

**

Five-year-old's aimless, wordless, instruction-free piss-around that mainly serves to delay the inevitable Minecraft singularity a bit longer.

Alrightgames: Star Realms – Bases & Battleships & Fleets & Fortresses

Star Realms: Crisis – Bases & Battleships & Fleets & Fortresses

2014 / Deckbuilding card game expansions / 2+ players

***

Thanks to an undervalued and misrepresented eBay listing, I could add this final pair of moderately sought-after reinforcements to the ranks and break even with surplus resales. Nothing too exciting, but they'll pop up in the trade deck just over 10% of the time and I'll be quite glad to see them, until I get used to them and forget what the big deal was.

My Star Realm

• Star Realms
• Colony Wars
• Gambit Set
• Bases & Battleships
• Fleets & Fortresses
• Events
• Promo Pack I
• Missions
• Scenarios
• Tech

Babyliography CXCVII

Michelle Robinson and Paddy Donnelly, Daddy's Footsteps

2024 / Library book / 32 pages

*

Not sure what appealed to her in this motivational dino book, but it's one of the less exciting in the field, with no carnivores in sight.

Unknown, Monster High Collection

2015 / Paperback / 224 pages

***

Bargain-bin Parragon omnibus haphazardly collecting profiles, puzzles and stories like some meta Frankie Stein.

Unknown, Aimee Helps Santa

2024 / Personalised paperback / 18 pages

***

She didn't question the historical accuracy of these supposed events, so she probably took it in the same tribute spirit I did my own personalised Christmas book, only these modern versions edit the text and images on a computer before printing rather than slapping them on awkwardly with a typewriter.

"David McKee," Elmer and the Gift

2023 / Library book / 32 pages

**

Thoughtful dementia discussion starter, whoever actually wrote it in the deceased author's name.

Unknown, My Little Pony Annuals 2008/09

2007/08 / Hardbacks / 128 pages

*

Deemed not worth buying along with the rest of the annuals last year, but discounted pre-coloured Christmas landfill gave her some cute stocking filler and bookshelf squatters. The decision to replace the comics and varied short stories with a single extended Christmas novella is bizarre.

Babyliography CXCVI

Jamie Smart, Looshkin: Honk If You See It!

2024 / Library book / 208 pages

****

Ahh, hyperactive, crazy kid humour. Long time no see. I advised against reading these deranged comics at bedtime, which predictably made her want them even more, and even more predictably struggle to sleep afterwards, impressionable young mind exploding with Looshkin. It made me laugh a few times too.

Unknown, Peppa Pig: Peppa the Zookeeper

2022 / Library book / 32 pages

**

This felt a lot longer than the ones she had at two, or I was just bored.

Dawn Isaac, 101 Things for Kids to Do on a Rainy Day

2015 / Library book / 224 pages

**

I didn't expect to find more than a couple of time fillers for the long Christmas holidays, but we made our own variations too. Their 'have a backwards day' suggestion is pathetically lightweight, involving no regurgitation or reverse bodily functions at all.

Jamie Smart, Looshkin: Oof! Right in the Puddings!

2023 / Library book / 208 pages

***

Off-puttingly crueller than the book we started on, or maybe I've had my fill of bonkers.

Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas

2023 / Library book / 32 pages

***

This year's Christmas Eve book, which may have started as a Halloween book before someone missed a deadline.

Babyliography CXCV

Ben Clanton, Narwhal Peanut Butter and Jelly: A Narwhal and Jelly Book

2019 / Library book / 64 pages

***

Genuinely funny, but you fly through the pages so fast, you'd need an omnibus of like ten of them to feel you were getting any value.

Vashti Hardy and Katie Cottle, Santa's Marvellous Mechanical Workshop

2023 / Library book / 32 pages

***

Puts a necessary creative spin on the whole thing.

Lisa Ann Scott, Enchanted Pony Academy: All That Glitters

2017 / Paperback / 128 pages

**

It may be supermarket-own-brand Unicorn Academy, but she found it more engaging than those books.

Suzannah Ditchburn, Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds: Pop It On!

2020 / School book / 16 pages

***

Continuing to hammer in a couple of phonemes a week through repetitive inanity. She strangely doesn't mind.

Jamie Smart, Max & Chaffy: Search for the Ice Chaffy

2023 / Library book / 128 pages

***

These cute, excitable things actually have a developing arc, but she prefers to read them out of order, even though she doesn't have to.

Babyliography CXCIV

Various, My Little Pony, Vol. 2: Smoothie-ing It Over

2023 / Library book / 120 pages

**

Brony-baiting lore interrupted by lessons in empathy. She mainly enjoys spotting Amy Mebberson's art.

Heather Amery and Stephen Cartwright, Usborne Farmyard Tales: The Hungry Donkey

1990 (updated 2017) / Library book / 32 pages

**

Another boring story salvaged by educational activities.

Emma Adams and Katy Halford, Unicorn and the Rainbow Poop Save Christmas

2021 / Library book / 32 pages

*

I was worried the book was constipated, but it delivered at the end.

Unknown, Peppa Pig: George's Birthday

School book

**

Y'know.

Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara and Sam Rudd, Little People, Big Dreams: Helen Keller

2022 / Library book / 32 pages

***

She picked out a Princess Diana one that I was worried to be too sad, so I recommended this cheery one about a deafblind girl instead.

Babyliography CXCIII

Fiona Undrill and Jon Stuart, Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds: Tick Tock and Mick

2021 / School book / 16 pages

***

Introducing contrasts via awkwardly adding not to sentences. She accidentally abbreviated one "can not" to "can't," don't get ahead of yourself.

Nancy Tafuri, The Donkey's Christmas Song

2006 / Library book / 32 pages

**

Baby Jesus chuckles at ass noises. She read the simpler words, helped a little by all the repetition.

Various, My Little Pony: Adventures in Friendship, Volume 2

2013-14 (collected 2015) / Hardback / 76 pages

***

Not bad for repackaged filler compilations. Better than those Turtles videos themed around a character, but that's not the highest bar.

Ben Clanton, Narwhal's Sweet Tooth: A Narwhal and Jelly Book

2024 / Library book / 64 pages

***

One of the funnier ones and more good lessons.

Jamie Smart, Max & Chaffy: The Cupcake Mystery

2023 / Library book / 128 pages

***

Extremely cute little mystery broken up by some easy rounds of Where's the Disembodied Rabbit Head Thing?