Don't let the title of this book fool you — children will learn much more than basic number recognition with this truly innovative set.
Now I Know My 1,2,3s is multilayered (literally!) fun and learning. Each 2-page spread is devoted to a numeral, with individual spreads for each number from 1-20, as well as the numbers 50 and 100. A pleasing rhyme tells the story of the featured number, and on the right-hand page, activities require children to use the magnetic tiles to complete hands-on exercises after folding a magnetic board under the page. A special pull-out drawer stores the 100+ magnetic pieces that include such time-honored math manipulatives as animal counters, pattern blocks, brick bars, rods, and number tiles. A special marker is included with a handy foam eraser attached to the cap. Children use the marker to practice writing numbers with the Zaner-Bloser system of handwriting on the book's special reusable write-on/wipe-off pages.
Activities range from positioning magnetic shapes on a page to counting to 50 by placing number tiles on a grid. The featured activity for the 15 page is an early exercise in multiplication — children arrange fish counters into 3 equal sets. Children use their magnetic numbers to fill in the missing numbers on the face of a clock on the 12 spread. The fold-out back cover of the book features a number grid with a write-on, wipe-off surface. Some of the numbers from 1-100 are already filled in as reference points, and children can practice printing as well as number sequencing by filling in the remaining squares.
Now I Know My 123's has been cleverly designed for use with children at different levels of ability. Parents can read the book to their younger children as they would any numbers concept book, asking them to count the objects on each page. The featured activities introduce more difficult concepts like addition, subtraction, measurement, and patterns, but they manage to do so in a way that even preschoolers can understand. For children ready for a little more challenge, peeking under the flap on the left side of the page will uncover extended activity ideas and answer keys.
The entire set may not be durable enough to be a toy that is passed down from one child to the next, especially since it's bound to get a lot of use. The marker may eventually run out (though any dry-erase marker can serve as a replacement), and little pieces might be lost or pages ripped. As well, the magnetic pieces are not strong enough to be used on the fridge, for example. Nonetheless, many parents will consider the set worth its suggested retail price of $16.99 US.
Small pieces make the kit inappropriate for the under-3 crowd, but because it introduces numbers beyond 10, it's probably more appropriate for children ages 3-6. This book/activity set has a lot going for it with its varied activities that offer solid skills practice above and beyond basic counting and numeral recognition.
