Zoo Animals for Toddlers

A first-words episode, and the shape never changes. Tibino stops at a railing, sees one animal, says what it is, names the one thing that makes it that animal — the long neck, the black and white stripes, the snow-white fur — and then asks whether you can say the word. Then the same animal comes back doing something else: Ellie lifts her trunk and later drinks with it, Penny waddles and later swims, Bramble digs and later sits back and scratches his tummy. Nine animals, each one twice. Only Tibino speaks; Pip rides along on his shoulder and says nothing.

A child who is just starting to say words. The question comes at the end of every stop and is always the same one, so there is a clear place to answer — and because each animal returns a minute later, the word gets a second try.

Nine zoo animal names, one distinguishing feature for each, and saying a word out loud when someone asks for it.