Here Comes Spider-Man! (Play-a-Sound)

Background

The guys at Play-a-Sound have always pushed the boundaries of when it comes to creating new formats for audio books. Back in 2010 they produced a book which came with a "Play-a-Sound" watch with buttons to provide the special effects. Now their latest 2011 effort packs even more into a single product!

Story Details

In fact, this product is so complex it has overflown the boundaries of "book format". In fact, it's available in two formats.

1. The 2011 Hardback Book (11" x 11")
2. The 2012 Gift-Boxed Padded Book (5" x 6")

In either case you get a book with five pop-up scenes, plus a torch with five Play-a-Sound buttons to provide special effects. Yep, you read that right. Sounds! Lights! Pop-ups! All in one single product!

Each of the five pop-up scenes comes with a scene-setting paragraph. e.g.:

"With great power comes great responsibility. This means that Spider-Man [SFX] must always use his powers to help others. So when Super Villains like the Green Goblin [SFX] are causing trouble, Spidey swings into action! [SFX]"

Of the five scenes, two are Spidey alone. One is Spidey vs. Green Goblin. Two are Spidey vs. Doc Ock. Also included in the large version are suggestions for shadow-puppets relevant to the scene. E.g. "Now use your fingers and the torch to make a shadow shaped like Doc Ock's pincers."

General Comments

The striking artwork is reproduced from the visually delightful graphics created for the Marvel: Origin Story Books series, specifically The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Green Goblin (Origin Storybook) and The Amazing Spider-Man vs. Doctor Octopus (Origin Storybook) .

The pop-ups aren't particularly complex, but they do look quite robust, which is great. Sometimes pop-up books can be a bit too fragile for young fingers. But these ones look like they can survive a bit of pre-school attention.

The sounds are fun, of course. And there's a torch. What MORE can you want?

Overall Rating

For a generation of kids used to playing on Tablets and Consoles before they even get to school, these days it takes something a bit special to qualify as "cool". But if any book can tear a kid away from their PlayStation or iPad for ten minutes, this would have to be the one.

I have to give this one the works... a full FIVE WEBS. Buy one and give it to your kids. Heck, give the small one to your kids and buy a big version for yourself!