Gymboree A to Z Activities for Kids    by Christine Coirault & Diane Benson Harrington Order:  USA  Can Key Porter, 2007 (2007) Hardcover     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Gymboree A to Z Activities for Kids, a boxed set of large, sturdy activity cards aimed at children aged one to four, will be welcomed by caregivers and kids alike. There's a play idea for each letter of the alphabet, with an explanation on one side and the letter (upper and lower case) along with a bright, enticing illustration on the other. An introductory Play Guide card gives tips for parents and other caregivers, to make the activity fun and educational for a toddler, elaborating on advice like 'Chat it up' and 'Follow your child's lead'. The back of the card explains why play is good for kids, with examples involving Music, Shape recognition, Pretend play and Art. Activities range from Ant (yes, you read it right, and it suggests having a kid crumble cookies to guide a line of ants down a path) to Zipper (for fine motor skills). While some are fairly obvious (like Block and Easel), others (like Window and Yarn) are quite imaginative. I especially like those that relate to nature, but they all provide creative, educational fun. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews