Oh Dear!: questions to ask and activities to try
Buster looks all over Grandma’s farm for eggs, and keeps finding the wrong animal. Oh Dear! is Rod Campbell’s lift-the-flap farm book for babies and toddlers, from the creator of Dear Zoo.
What age is it for? Oh Dear! is best for ages 1–3. Good for: Lifting flaps, naming farm animals and joining in with a repeated line.
Oh Dear! (Rod Campbell)
- Age
- 1-3
- Best for
- Lifting flaps, naming farm animals and joining in with a repeated line
Let your child lift each flap. Pause before you open it so they can guess, and say "Oh dear!" together every time.
What it helps with
- Naming animals and the sounds they make
- Joining in with a repeated line
- Guessing what comes next
- Fine motor skills from lifting flaps
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Where did Buster look first?”
- “Which animal was behind that flap?”
- “What sound does a cow make?”
- “Where do you think the eggs are?”
- “Who found the eggs in the end?”
- “Which animal would you like to meet on a farm?”
5-minute activities to try together
Egg hunt
Hide a toy egg or a ball somewhere in one room. Give clues like Buster’s search until your child finds it.
Animal noises
Take turns making an animal noise from the book. The other person guesses which animal it is.
Free printables: Oh Dear! worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
Dear Zoo (Rod Campbell)
- Best for
- First words, animals and lifting the flaps
- Age
- 0-4
Where's Spot? (Eric Hill)
- Best for
- Lifting flaps, first words and finding Spot
- Age
- 0-3
Rosie's Walk (Pat Hutchins)
- Best for
- Position words, and spotting what the character can't see
- Age
- 2-5
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 17 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.