I was wrong. Last week, I quoted reader Barbara Nikonorow's excellent tips for children on long-haul flights. Barbara suggested a selection of suitable toys. I solemnly declared Barbara's wise words to be the last and best on the subject. Then, this week, we took a 12-hour flight to Cape Town. One large item of our hand luggage consisted of everything Barbara had recommended. It was quite a load; it would - I was convinced - be essential and invaluable.

But I hadn't realised that the inflight goody bag for kids has been transformed. British Airways now has age-appropriate Disney packs: 10-year-old Storme was given a navy backpack with a discreet Mickey logo, while the two-year-old twins had Winnie the Pooh equivalents. Inside were magazines, pens, games, and a pack of cards. All worked well except the cards, which were soon lost between the seat cracks. My own big bag of Barbara's recommendations was never opened.

Oh well, I thought, they will come in handy at the hotel. But then, hotels that dare to advertise as child friendly are also changing. The Cape Grace on Cape Town's Waterfront (capegrace.com) put a box of toys for each of the kids in our room - Play-Doh, bricks, puzzles, and more pens. If only I'd checked with the airline and hotel, I wouldn't have been so encumbered.

But there is one thing neither British Airways nor Cape Grace could provide: each child has brought their favourite book. Unlike almost any other toy (and I think to a child a book is a toy) it can be shared with someone of any age - a sister, a mother, a fellow passenger, a willing hotel guest - or be played alone. It can also be read anywhere - in flight, by the pool, in bed. It gives comfort and joy. Two-year-old Savanna has Little Rabbit Foo Foo. She goes nowhere without it.