Square Eyes product reviews

Another catchy book with a great song that gets stuck in your head for an entire day. I took this book into work with me (daycare) and tested it on our amazing critics of 2-5 year olds.

Quite a few of the 3-4 year olds sat for a very long period of time glued to the book and listening to the song. I caught a number of them (including myself) swaying and moving to the beat of the song. Very catchy and very relevant (in my opinion) to our current young generation who are growing up glued to iPads, TV's and portable devices. Has a great moral about getting outside and exercising instead of being stuck inside glued to the television missing out on loads.

The pictures were nice and vibrant, but again, in my opinion they were quite uninteresting for the age group I was reading it to. They like to stop and ask questions but there wasn't a lot for them to actually talk about. I felt like the song was rather fast and I was constantly flicking pages to try and keep up with the song. All in all a great book, catchy tune and a good message that fits perfect for today's generation of square eyes.

Yet another creative book/song by our New Zealand songwriter Craig Smith. I was excited to be given the opportunity to review this book. The Wonkey Donkey (what Craig Smith got known for) is a favourite in my family and that of friends. I have given it to many and is always a well received gift.

The title 'Squares Eyes' grabbed my attention. I have always referred to watching too much TV as giving you square eyes so was actually nice to have a book to back up what my 3 year old hears me say.

Unlike Craig's other books - this book requires the CD/music to give you the flow of the storyline. Reading it alone just does not make much sense. I don't think it is as catchy as his other books. I like how Craig has looked at a wide variety of suggestions to give students the motivation to not sit in front of TV but get out and exercise, have FUN. He includes little jokes throughout his writing that maybe only the older child/adult gets but then why not make a story appeal to all ages?

The illustrations are once again catchy, although not a lot to talk about in each picture. I think they are appropriate for a song where you are turning pages at a quicker rate than if I was reading.

As I do with all books, I shared them with others that visit my home (they become the coffee table reading). I have had mixed reaction to this book with many feeling that the way Craig uses the term square eyes is inappropriate for kids. I can see their point but hey - I use the term with my kids so why not have a book about it.