Priddy Books Playtown series + Duplo

May 31, 2022

This post is a little different. I usually suggest a great gift and several matching book options. In this post, I want to shine a light on the wonderfully cohesive pairing of Priddy Books’ Playtown series and the magic of Duplo. Perfect for the 1-5-year-old crowd, these are classic, ubiquitous, educational but mostly heaps of fun.

Duplo

We are long-time Duplo and Lego lovers. It probably stems from me as a kid having fond memories and a high value on these toys. They were revered, loved, used, and cherished in the house I grew up in. Duplo and Lego allowed for expression, imagination, and problem-solving. They can be easily cleaned, all the sets are compatible and they are highly durable. When I became a parent I wanted my kids to enjoy these benefits and we began our collection of Duplo with a second-hand zoo set.

Over the years our collection has grown as we have been gifted or bought items, often from op-shops. At one point I was looking around to buy one of my daughters a set of dollhouse furniture for a gift. I struggled with the idea of getting another type of toy for our house. I bolt of inspiration showed me that better than getting a completely new set of toys, I would search around and get Duplo furniture, which could be used in a dollhouse, and with the Duplo collection. That dollhouse furniture has well outlived the house it was bought for as you’d expect because Duplo is indestructible.

Priddy Books Playtown series

The Playtown series by Priddy Books is the book version of Duplo. Aimed at precisely the same audience, these brightly coloured, happy board books depict settings, vehicles, occupations, and people that fascinate young children. The big Playtown book takes kids from the town centre to the train station, construction site, airport, and zoo. They get to peek under flaps and search the detailed pictures for cute creatures and clues about how a town runs.

When we borrowed Playtown from the library we spent hours with our preschoolers pouring over each page. I gifted it to one of my nieces and then a few years later gifted it to her brother (a side effect of a cluttered mind). When I realised my mistake and told my sister I’d replace the book with a different one, she said not to bother. Their first copy had been so thoroughly loved that they were in need of a new one.

I can confidently recommend any Playtown book and any Duplo set. But because there are a few to choose from I’ve suggested one Duplo set for each Playtown book.