Honestly, if you have a toddler, your living room probably looks like a Bluey bomb went off. There are plushies in the fruit bowl and "Keepy Uppy" balloons stuck behind the TV. But there’s one specific piece of merch that seems to be popping up in every Walmart clearance aisle and Amazon "Recommended" list lately: Bluey's Book of Games.
It’s not just a book. It’s also not really a "game" in the traditional sense. It’s this weird, chunky, interactive VTech hybrid that parents either love or find deeply confusing.
What Exactly Is Bluey's Book of Games?
Let’s get the facts straight first because there are actually a few things with similar names. You might be looking for the Big Book of Games (the 80-page paperback activity book from Penguin) or the Official Bluey Annual. But most people searching for this are looking for the VTech Bluey's Book of Games, that bright blue electronic toy with the handle.
It’s got 14 interactive pages. VTech designed it for the 3-to-6-year-old crowd, though let’s be real—two-year-olds are obsessed with the "Press and Play" buttons.
Basically, the book walks your kid through Seven specific games from the show. We’re talking about:
- The Claw (where Dad is the machine)
- Hotel
- Mount Mumanddad
- The Creek
It uses the real character voices. This is huge. There is nothing worse than a licensed toy where Bluey sounds like a 40-year-old accountant from Ohio. Here, you get the actual Aussie charm.
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How the modes actually work
The book isn't just for reading. It has four distinct settings.
- Story Mode: This is the standard "flip the page and listen" experience. Bluey explains the rules of a game.
- Play Together Mode: This is where it gets a bit more "active." Bluey asks the kid to find four specific items needed for a game. It’s supposed to encourage pretend play.
- Music Mode: You press the four light-up buttons to add sound effects to melodies from the show. It’s loud. You’ve been warned.
- Follow the Leader: A memory-style game. Bluey asks the child to find things in a specific order.
The "Bandit" Problem: Why This Book Is Kinda Dangerous
There is a running joke in the Bluey fandom (mostly on Reddit) about the "Bandit Standard." We see Bandit Heeler drop everything to play a 20-minute elaborate game of "Hospital" and we feel like failures.
Bluey's Book of Games doubles down on this.
The book literally prompts your child to find "around-the-house items" to play the games. If your kid hears Bluey say, "Let’s play Hotel!", they are going to expect you to be the bellhop. Immediately. The book is basically a catalyst for chaos.
One parent on a recent forum mentioned that their kid started shouting "Go away!" at the park because of the "Go Away, Come Back" game mentioned in these books. The grandparents were horrified until they realized it was just a dog-inspired game. That's the nuance of Bluey—the games are brilliant, but they require a high level of parental "buy-in" that sometimes we just don't have on a Tuesday afternoon.
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Is It Worth the $15-$20?
If you're looking for something to keep a kid quiet during a long car ride, this is a solid choice. It’s durable. VTech makes stuff that can survive being dropped down a flight of stairs or covered in juice.
However, some parents find the "Music Mode" a bit much. The volume control helps, but it’s still a noisy toy.
"It's the size of a binder and actually feels like a 'big kid' book," says one reviewer from late 2025. "But the memory game is the real winner. It actually makes them think rather than just mashing buttons."
Specific Specs for the Nerdy Parents:
- Batteries: Needs 3 AA batteries. (Usually comes with "demo" batteries that die in three days, so buy a pack).
- Automatic Shut-off: Yes, thank goodness.
- Educational Focus: Visualization, memory, and role-play.
What Most People Get Wrong About Bluey Books
A lot of people think these interactive books are just "noise makers." But if you actually use them as a "menu" for play, they change the vibe of the afternoon.
Instead of staring at a screen, the kid hears the prompt for "The Claw" and starts gathering pillows. That's the "E-E-A-T" (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) of the Bluey brand—it’s always pushing the viewer back into the real world.
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The downside? The 2023 and 2024 versions have been known to have some battery terminal issues if they sit in a warehouse too long. If you buy one and it sounds like a dying robot, check for corrosion in the battery compartment. It’s a known "hiccup" with some of the VTech batches.
What to Do Next
If you just bought Bluey's Book of Games or you're thinking about it, don't just hand it over and walk away.
First, check the battery compartment for any leaks—standard toy safety 101. Then, actually sit with your kid for the first "Story Mode" run-through. Identify which "around-the-house" items the book mentions (like pillows, hats, or spoons) and have a dedicated "Bluey Bin" for them. This prevents your entire kitchen from being dismantled every time they want to play "Hotel."
Also, keep an eye out for the 2025 "Outdoor Games" lift-the-flap book and the 2026 "Hospital" board book. The Bluey publishing world is expanding fast, and these newer releases are leaning more into "early reader" territory rather than just electronic prompts.
Actionable Insight: Use the "Follow the Leader" mode as a transition tool. If you need your kid to clean up, tell them the book is the "Boss" for 5 minutes. It’s amazing how much more they’ll do for a plastic dog than for a human parent.