Too cute for words

There are two kinds of purchases you can make in Cambodia, both at stores run by the country’s vast network of NGOs: traditional crafts such as silk scarves and bamboo baskets, or cutesy contemporary objets d’art. Yes, this Alphabet Book is supposed to be an educational toy and, yes, I bought it fantasising that my preschooler would cleverly identify which little hand-knitted toy went into which pocket. (But A for angel? S for skunk? O for an octopus with five legs?) I should have a) acquired a ‘showcase’ and b) left the book on it. On the other hand, it’s been an educational toy for me, leading me to ponder the different cultural contexts in which children learn language, wonder about how toys mysterious to me are meaningful to children in other cultures, and so on. And it’s really very cute. Available for $15 at Tabitha, Phnom Penh.