This is an absolutely super and imaginative book. I rank it at three stars rather than 4 or 5 only because the window of opportunity for using and enjoying it is quite narrow. It is rated by the publisher as ages 4+, which is fair because the gimmick of sliding two panels together to reveal a compound word (star + fish >> starfish) can scarcely be operated by anyone younger; but once the child actually begins to read simple words, the interest will quickly wane. In its favour, it is a very sturdy book and will last through several children or even several families. And kids of 6 or 7 who really need the word practice but might think they're "too old" for a board book can probably be induced to read it to a younger sibling. ( )