My Little Red Toolbox
Kids love to hammer, saw, turn bolts, and build things. But of course  real tools are a little too hazardous for those tiny fingers. So Caldecott Honor  artist Stephen T. Johnson (Alphabet City) came up with a  fun and educational solution: a combination toolbox and book! With its seven  sturdy cardboard tools, bolts and screws that really turn, and erasable slate,  this handy kit will provide hours of entertainment--and may keep those  youngsters out of the grownup toolbox. Each two-page spread features a removable  working tool and a different shape to work on. Turn the hand drill in the  premade holes in a triangle. Pound pretend nails into a star shape. Cut a piece  of "wood" into two rectangles--with a satisfying rasping sound! While they're  becoming amateur carpenters, children will learn some basic skills in counting,  shapes, and colors; on each colorful background, readers see one piece of paper,  two pieces of wood, three holes, and so on up to six nails. This handsome red  book includes a pencil, ruler, saw, drill, screwdriver, wrench, hammer, and  slate for drawing up plans. Smaller children may need some help prying the tools  out of their snug compartments, at least until the tools get a little worn in.  (Ages 3 to 6)--Emilie Coulter