I also recommend the 'wipe clean' activity books like onthegomom suggests, specifically - 'Activity Work Book' by Priddy Books, I think the series is called 'Wipe Clean'. There are letters, numbers, etc., the one dd4 has been loving for about 1.5 years now is this 40 page one with a mix of animals, including dinosaurs, and a range of activities from circling this or that, letter/number practice pages, a maze or two and counting. The markers don't seem to have been a big issue in making a mess (they write well in the book and have lasted, but don't seem to be easy to use on other surfaces so that is nice). It was about $15 bucks, but definitely lasts!
The other one she has really like is 'PreSchool Scholar' for ages 3-5, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it had everything from very very easy, to some fairly subtle puzzles in analogies and sequencing of events towards the back. She did the first part of this book over a year ago and then I am not sure, maybe wasn't ready for the rest until recently she picked it back up and finished it in a night or two. She really enjoyed the whole thing. (not a wipe-clean) We probably got it at borders for around $3.
Have fun hunting!
just thought to check amazon for links:
Wipe Clean Activity book Preschool Scholar book
