Toy Book, "The Speaking Picture Book," circa 1885

The Speaking Picture Book encouraged young children to enjoy reading. Parents would read about a lamb, donkey, cow, goat, and other animals, then pull the corresponding ivory-buttoned cord that activated handmade paper bellows. Baas, brays, moos, or bleats--sounds heard around a farmyard--resonated from the book. This noisy book entertained as well as educated children and made reading fun.