MY FIRST COLOR DOMINOES

A graphically simple board-book–and-game combo.

Inside the cardboard case nestles a set of 28 sturdy paperboard tiles and a 16-page book. The book is basic fare exploring various colors. On each double-page spread the color is written in all caps, and a series of usual-suspect cartoon and graphic images in said hue float about on the page. A couple of the choices seem a bit of a stretch, particularly the red-and-white European pedestrian-crossing sign on the “white” spread and a few blue objects that seem more aquamarine than true blue. The final double-page spread includes a rapid-fire presentation of several secondary colors, green, purple, orange, etc., and a simple visual equation shows readers how to create these colors with primary shades that were shown before. The domino game focuses on matching icons as much as matching specific hues. Each double-sided domino includes a bold image of one of the objects, animals or people found in the book. The rules, which are a simplified version of basic dominoes, are listed on the back of the book. A choking-hazard warning suggests that the product is not for children under 3, but the game aspect makes it appropriate for older children anyway.

While the set is handsome, the book is more appropriate for toddlers while the dominoes are more befitting of children approaching 4, making it an incongruous package.