Indestructibles-The Name Says it All for These Great Baby and Toddler Books

For people on the go with baby or young kids, books can present a challenge.  Paperbacks aren’t very sturdy and have a hard time standing up to all the “love” that a toddler or baby can dish out.  Board books are a lot tougher, but even they can’t handle getting wet (or who are we kidding – soaked) and bring more than one along and you’ll quickly realize they are HEAVY!  Sure, there are some that are more suited to travel with kids than others.  We’ve used the Eric Carle Stroller Cards and love them, our toddler is entranced with the Animal ABC’s Ring Flash Cardsand the Maisy Stroll-Along Bookshave traveled all over with us.  However, as much as we love these great products, it’s still challenging to bring more than one or two along when we travel.  Enter the Indestructibles- lightweight, tear-proof and washable, these might just be the perfect item for travel with kids!  Picture a book that’s as (if not more) lightweight than a paper back picture book, but more rugged than a board book – welcome to the world of Indestructibles!

Indestructibles are made out of Tyvek – a material used to build houses – rather than paper.  This makes them tough.  Incredibly tough.  Being the brats that we are, we naturally felt it was our duty to instantly and personally test out the claim that these books don’t tear.  We tried.  We really did.  But they don’t.  And won’t – even when your toddler leaves them where baby can reach them.  Not only is the material itself super strong, but the pages are sewn together, not glued, and there is no cover.  The whole book is made out of the same tough material.  So go ahead – shove them into your diaper bag.  Toss them into the bottom of the stroller, pile whatever you want on top of them, cram them into that overflowing carry-on – you can’t rip these.  We dare you to try!  Heck, our son has lovingly chewed on more than a couple.  They can take it!

As anyone who’s ever had a toddler with a leaky sippy cup can tell you, board books don’t like water.  Regular picture books like it even less.  Indestructibles , on the other hand, are washable.  That’s right – full on, in the sink, scrubbing with the soap brush – washable.  It’s a beautiful thing.  So after your toddler drops them in the parking lot and (hopefully) before your baby decides to teethe on them, you can simply wash them off.  It’s a slightly surreal feeling as you serenely watch the water pour over a book and then take out your scrub bush and go to town.  Not only do they come clean, but washing them seems to smooth out the worst of the wrinkles from the, ahem, “love” that ours receive.

Available in several different titles, the books are filled with bright pictures that our kids really enjoy.  Both our toddler daughter and our baby son really enjoy them.  None of the books have words written in them, but given the age of our children, we don’t feel that’s a problem.  It’s easy to make up a story, or simply talk about what’s in the picture.  There are several books that are modern twists on nursery rhymes (Humpty, Dumpty falls off the Great Wall of China, Old MacDonald Has a Farm – in Bolivia and Mary and her little lamb live in Africa, amongst others ).  Not only are these a fun new version, but since the words are already well-known (and printed on the back of the book just in case), it’s easy to “read” along, even without the words being on every page.  Plus, for those who travel with kids (or would like to) it’s a fun way to introduce young kids to other places(Mommy and Daddy have seen the clock the mice went up – it’s in London! )

We’re sure you can see why these rugged, lightweight books made our list of great toddler travel toys.  For more ways to keep little fingers busy, check out Travel with a Toddler and Top 10 Great Toddler Travel Toys.  Want to travel with baby?  Our Top Ten Baby Travel Toys will keep them (and you) happy.