Each Peach Pear Plum
The original I-spy book, and the reason your toddler already knows who Cinderella is.
Why they ask for it again
Each page hides a character, and finding them before you do makes a two-year-old feel like a detective.
Our review
Every spread asks them to spot someone in the picture: Tom Thumb, Cinderella, the Three Bears, Bo-Peep, Robin Hood. All of them turn up at the end for a plum pie picnic, which is a lovely payoff for a book with only a few lines per page.
It quietly plants a whole library of nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Janet Ahlberg's pictures are full of small detail, the sort of thing you notice around reading fifteen, which is why parents tolerate this one so well.
How to read it aloud
Read the line, then wait in silence. Let them hunt. Pretending you cannot find someone is the entire game.
The catch
It leans on a shared knowledge of British nursery rhymes. Elsewhere, you may need to explain who Bo-Peep is.
Is it scary?
A witch and a bear appear, but nobody could be scared by this book.
Books like Each Peach Pear Plum, and what to read next
Dear ZooFor the same small pleasure of uncovering who is on the page.
Room on the BroomWhen they want more witches and an actual plot.
The Tiger Who Came to TeaAnother very British, very cosy classic to grow into.
Also good for
Quick answers
What age is Each Peach Pear Plum for?
Ages 1–4. The sweet spot, in our opinion, is age 2 to 3.
How long does Each Peach Pear Plum take to read aloud?
About 3 minutes at a calm bedtime pace, by our estimate. Allow longer if you do the voices.
Is Each Peach Pear Plum scary?
A witch and a bear appear, but nobody could be scared by this book.
What should we read after Each Peach Pear Plum?
We would suggest Dear Zoo, Room on the Broom, The Tiger Who Came to Tea.