Here's a fascinating set of playthings that not only provides preschoolers with an entertaining collection of building blocks, but also promotes eye-hand coordination, helps develop motor control and aids in object identification and letter recognition.

The easy-to-assemble set of ABC blocks, designed by illustrator Cathy Beylon, includes 12 attractive full-color cubes, each with six sides displaying different letters of the alphabet and a picture of an object beginning with that letter. There's a big letter A with an airplane behind it; a butterfly and a brush, each accompanied by a large B; a letter E with an elephant peeking through, and so on-all the way through to X, Y and Z.

Printed on durable stock, the two-inch square cubes are easy to put together. just punch them out, fold along pre-scored lines, add a touch of glue to bind the sides together and youngsters are ready to build ABC skills while they build block houses, walls and other structures.

Original Dover (1995) publication. 12 full-color blocks. 9134 x 12,'4'. Paperbound.