Toys, Books and Games

May 2026 – Five Little Monkeys Finger Puppet Book

May 10, 2026

This Five Little Monkeys finger puppet book is a lovely example of a preschool-friendly book that combines counting, rhyme, repetition, and play. The soft puppet in the middle makes it especially engaging for young children, because it gives them something to look at, touch, and follow as you read together.

Why this book is good for numeracy

At first glance, this looks like a fun novelty book. But books like this are actually very useful for helping young children build early maths understanding.

With a story or rhyme based around five little monkeys, children begin to hear and notice:

counting in order
the idea that numbers relate to quantity
one less each time
repetition and pattern in number songs
early number language such as one, two, three, four, five

This matters because early numeracy is not just about recognising written numbers. It is also about hearing number words again and again, joining in, and beginning to understand what those words mean.

Why finger puppet books work so well

The puppet element helps hold a child’s attention and makes story time feel playful rather than formal.

You can use the puppet to:

count the monkeys together
point to monkeys on the page
encourage your child to join in with repeated lines
act out the rhyme
pause and ask, “How many monkeys are left?”

That little bit of movement can make a big difference, especially for younger preschoolers who are still learning to sit, watch, listen, and join in.

Great for school readiness

Books like this support more than just counting.

They also help children practise:

listening and attention
turn-taking
joining in with familiar words
noticing pattern and sequence
building confidence with early number language

These are all useful foundations for Reception, where children are expected to listen to stories, join in with rhymes, and begin exploring number in practical ways.

A good reminder: learning does not have to be expensive

One of the best things about little books like this is that they do not need to cost much.

This is exactly the sort of item parents can often pick up at boot fairs for about 20p, which makes it a brilliant low-cost find for home learning. Sometimes the best resources are not the newest or most expensive ones. They are the simple, well-loved books that children want to read again and again.

Easy ways to use this book at home

You do not need to “teach” with it. Just keep it playful.

Try:

counting the monkeys on each page
holding up fingers as you read
asking, “How many now?”
saying the number words slowly together
using the puppet to “jump” as you tell the rhyme

Even two minutes of this kind of shared reading can help build familiarity with number language.

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Toys, Books and Games

April 2026 Pick – “Simon Says”

March 30, 2026

2 minutes that build listening
Last month’s poll showed that parents were keen to improve their child’s listening and attention skills. So this month, we are recommending a cost-free activity to help your child practise paying attention and following instructions.

Try a quick game of Simon Says at home. Say a simple action such as, “Simon says touch your head” or “Simon says clap twice.” Your child only does the action if you say “Simon says” first.

This easy game helps children listen carefully, notice key words, wait, and follow instructions. These are all important skills for nursery, preschool, and Reception.

Keep it short, playful, and simple. Two minutes is enough.

Try these ideas:
“Simon says, sit down.”
“Simon says, hands on knees.”
“Simon says, touch your nose.”
“Jump!”

That last one is the trick — if you did not say “Simon says,” your child has to stop and listen again.

Why it helps:
Listening games like this help children get ready for Reception because they practise paying attention, controlling impulses, and following simple spoken instructions — all skills children use every day in the classroom.

Toys, Books and Games

March 2026 Book Pick

March 26, 2026

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

(Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury)

Why this one?

If you want one book that reliably gets preschoolers talking, this is it. The repeated phrases help children join in, the story uses words that imitate sounds, and the setting words build school-readiness language (over, under, through, around).

These are words children need to follow instructions and explain what they’re doing in a Reception classroom — and they come up all day, every day.

It’s also brilliant for confidence because children can “read” parts from memory very quickly.

What noise do you think the mud makes?

Price

Expect to pay £1-£5, so it’s a realistic family buy. This book often appears at a low cost in UK retailers, both new and on preloved apps and websites.

Grown-ups’ Guide

Read once for fun.

Read again and pause so your child can say the repeated bits (even just one word).

Do a 1-minute “bear hunt” at home: go through a doorway, under a table, over a cushion — say the words as you move

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