Wobbly Wood

Our local library here in Brighton, UK, has been hosting a series of exhibitions under the title 'Art for Babies'. It's been an absolute delight to take my daughter there and see what new items await her each time, from light panels that change colour to ceramic wall-art that the kids are encouraged to touch.

One constant has been the wooden animals of Jeff Soan, whose work you can see - and buy - on his website. His cleverly articulated animals, from fish to armadillos (my personal favourite), each have heads and tails that swish from side to side with the slightest encouragement.

What's impressive is that child after child is coming and prodding, poking, stroking and exploring these sculptures in a public space, and they are robust enough to stand up to it. And to be honest, it's not just the kids that are giving them a once-over. There's something irresistible, even for an adult, about running your fingers over multiple slices of ridged wood.

At £575, the armadillo might be a bit beyond my pay packet, but fish begin at £14.00. The 'rocking chicken', below, is also a cheaper option if you buy it in its smaller incarnations (I was quite disappointed to find that it's not a ride-on).