4★ “I am telling you the truth, guys! It was a terrible, terrible first day at school.
The bell rang, and then the teacher said, ‘Come on, everyone, tel4★ “I am telling you the truth, guys! It was a terrible, terrible first day at school.
The bell rang, and then the teacher said, ‘Come on, everyone, tell your name and age to the class.’ ”
Poor kid. Whispering isn’t going to work.
[image]
“ ‘I can’t hear you over here. Louder, please’ the teacher said. And I nervously screamed: JACK-RUSSELL BEAGLE VAN DE HOUND age 6’ ”
Sitting alone on a little stool, contemplating names, ‘Jack’ says to us:
“What was going through my parents’ minds when they were choosing my name? Really… what? Awful, awful day. I hate my name. Like I am some kind of dog… Jack-Russell… ugh!”
On the next page, we have a dog asking if they have something against dogs. Oops! Turns out the dog has an odd name, too. Then we meet other animals who aren’t happy with their names.
[image]
“ ‘Do I look to you like Marshmallow Stripes? I am a leopard, you know!’”
There are even a couple of characters who love their names and brag about them, but they aren’t allowed to join the club. This is an exclusive club.
The illustrations are just wonderful. I love them. The idea is a good one, and some of the names are quite funny. I wish the text had lived up to the artwork. The author/illustrator is definitely talented.
The final page is the whole club (so far!), and they certainly look to be a happy bunch.
[image]
I avoided (I think) saying he or she, since it wasn’t necessarily obvious, but the there are a couple of creatures with skirts or frocks, including Miss Bathilda Slimepuddle, “ ’But everyone calls me The Bad Hilda.’’ I think she is a hippo.
Thanks to the author who posted the link on Facebook to a time-limited free download of her book on Amazon for readers and reviewers. I couldn’t resist her pictures. They are worth 5★....more
4★ “Ready, steady, GO!”
[image]
“As soon as I wake up the day jumps into life. ‘Hurry up—breakfast is ready,’ Mom calls.
‘Finish that quickly. We’re 4★ “Ready, steady, GO!”
[image]
“As soon as I wake up the day jumps into life. ‘Hurry up—breakfast is ready,’ Mom calls.
‘Finish that quickly. We’re late!’”
[image]
“The city is already awake and singing. Horns blare, sirens wail, and no one ever stops. People rush by spinning, beeping, and running.”
They are running to school, almost at the gate, and Mom wishes time would slow down. Guess who doesn’t? School goes forever, it's boring tagging along after Mom at the veggie market, and how long do you have to wait for Mom to mix the cake and bake it?
[image]
“Mom loves to measure time. But how long is ‘a bit’ or ‘a little while?’ And what about ‘just a moment?’”
If we could change time, we could fast forward and have another birthday party and jump from one holiday to the next!
And if the weather is stormy, we could speed it up to the next sunny day and then plant seeds that would grow instantly to trees taller than mountains. (Ok, kid. Now you’re stretching it a bit.)
[image]
“But I can’t speed up time, so instead I just wait… wait… wait…”
[image]
[image]
“But as I wait, I see things as I’ve never seen them before… A tiny snail leaving a trail and shrinking inside his shell, safe in his jewel-like home. A magpie sitting on her eggs to keep them warm. A beautiful flower shyly opening its petals one by one. All of these things are waiting too.”
[image]
“In the forest, I stare up at the trees… I hear them whisper ‘We had to wait to grow mighty and strong. Just like you, we were once little before…’”
There are other little creatures tucked under the leaves at the foot of the trees, curled up, napping. They are looking forward to spring but are dreaming now, cosy and warm.
There is an enormous cavern that says “Everything around you took time to grow. Drop by drop…’”
[image]
“If you wait long enough rocks can turn into sand. Trees can turn into forests.”
[image]
“But long before there was a forest, a tree or even a sapling, every tree was just a tiny, little seed—waiting for the perfect moment to sprout up and say hello.
This very moment. A moment when I wish I could just pause time.”
This is a lovely book. Author/illustrator Marina Ruiz’s dedication says “For all the little saplings in my life, and those yet to sprout.”
I think any little saplings in our lives might enjoy recreating this walk and seeing what things are growing or hibernating, sprouting new leaves or shedding old ones. And there are always bugs and birds to find.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for a copy of #InTime for review....more
4★ “Dogs are STUPID. Fine, I’ll prove it – watch this…”
A world-weary grey cat sets out to demonstrate how silly dogs are by encouraging a happy-go-luck4★ “Dogs are STUPID. Fine, I’ll prove it – watch this…”
A world-weary grey cat sets out to demonstrate how silly dogs are by encouraging a happy-go-lucky golden dog to do tricks. The dog brings the cat a red ball which the cat immediately tosses into a mud puddle, so of course the dog dives in, comes out, and shakes mud all over the cat, as anyone truly familiar with dogs would have expected.
Then the dog helps itself to a roll around in the cow pasture, as the cow watches idly on.
[image]
“See what I mean?”
The cat acknowledges that they have a good sense of smell but is not impressed with how they smell each other’s backsides. Then the cat introduces some of the many kinds of dogs.
[image]
“wrinkly… pinkly… mop… cop… way over the top”
The cat wanders through the neighbourhood pointing out some of his friends, saying “You know what you’re getting with a cat. No big surprises.”
That would seem to be true until, while facing the other way, he walks straight into a big ‘post’ which turns out to be quite a big surprise.
[image]
“ Errrr, BIG CAT!! Nice kitty? RAAAAH!”
Poor cat is treed by the angry tiger and makes an admission.
[image]
“Actually, there is one good thing about dogs… they’re loyal. In fact…”
I liked the way the cat’s expression changed from superciliously exasperated with the apparent dumbness of dogs to an accepting understanding that we all have a place iin the world and can be friends.
Hear hear!
Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review....more
‘Mom. Mr. Wind is crying out… please, come play with me.’
Oooo be careful what you wish for, Ricky. 4★ “ WHOOSH WHOOSH. It’s so windy tonight, Ricky’
‘Mom. Mr. Wind is crying out… please, come play with me.’
Oooo be careful what you wish for, Ricky.
[image]
“ ‘That’s right. But it’s time for you to go to bed.’”
Ricky is tucked up neatly in bed, but then he sits up and looks out the window. He can see his little red car being blown up into the air right past the doghouse. The dog looks at it but seems calm.
“ WHOOSH-WHOOSH-KA-WHOOSH”
[image]
“Then all the toys jumped into the wind!”
But it’s not just the toys. Ricky calls out “ ‘Wait!’ ” and before you know it, he’s out the window and flying through the wild winds with all of his toys and even his bed and big striped quilt!
[image]
“ ‘Let’s race to the forest over there! Ready, set, got!’”
They find a big tree and snuggle down in little hiding places and count to ten.
[image]
Now they’re brave, and Ricky dares the wind.
[image]
“ ‘Ten! Now come find us!’ “
Guess what? Ricky can hear the rustling of the wind and tell his toys not to come out yet. Too late!
[image]
“WHOOSH!”
Everything flies through the air, and I mean everything… except it seems Ricky has been left behind, all alone.
“ ‘Everyone. Everyone flew away. I’m still hiding, all alone. Mr. Wind come find me quick!’ ”
The wind whooshes and swooshes and laughs at Ricky.
[image]
“ ‘I found you!’
‘Ricky!’
‘Mom!’ ”
Ricky is on the floor, wrapped in his quilt, surround by a mess of his toys. He explains how they were playing hide-and-seek in the forest and then Mr. Wind found them and blew them back.
Mom helps him look around his room for Mr. Wind, then opens the curtains on a calm, starry night, where the dog is sleeping happily in the doghouse. Mom says Mr. Wind must be tired, but he will return to play another day.
This is a beautifully illustrated story to show children who might be frightened of stormy weather, but I think an adult should read it with them to make a game out of it. They need to ensure that hiding in the forest is obviously the child’s imagination, not an actual event. I wouldn’t want any children to get the wrong idea about playing outside in a windstorm!
There are plenty of opportunities to talk about the weather and fear and for the children to name and count the toys.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Museyon for a review copy of #AWildWindyNight....more
[NOTE review amended after author corrected proof copy of book.] 5★ “Did you know the world is full of nouns? They are everywhere if you take a look aro[NOTE review amended after author corrected proof copy of book.] 5★ “Did you know the world is full of nouns? They are everywhere if you take a look around. Learning is fun, I know you can do it, Especially when we rhyme our way through it!”
This is a cute picture book with heaps of examples of nouns. The rhymes use a bit of poetic licence, but they are still fun to read, and I think kids will enjoy them.
I usually use bold typeface for quotations, but I’ll use italics, because they put the nouns in bold.
[image]
“A noun is a person, animal, place or thing, Like a teacher, an elephant, a playground, a swing.”
Then it moves through an amusement park and out into space.
[image]
“A noun can be in space, like a planet, moon or star, It can also be on Earth, like a bike or a car.”
There are more pages of wonderful examples, and other details to identify as nouns.
[image]
“A noun is a butterfly, a bear or a bee, A noun is a twig or a branch on a tree.”
I know kids will enjoy this one and possibly make it an excuse for playing in the rain.
[image]
“Even the weather gives us nouns, Like rain from the sky that makes a puddle on the ground.”
From the rain to a lovely sunset.
[image]
“Nouns are everywhere that you look, Like a sunset, a watch, and a picture in a book.”
The overall concept is attractive and entertaining, and the illustrations lend themselves to pointing out other nouns in the pictures (hoping that the adult helpers will understand the rules). Because there are so many nouns here (I didn’t count), I think children will have a fair grasp of the idea by the end of the book, and perhaps those adult helpers will, too. ...more
4★ “When he was four years old, his uncle Toni gave him his first tennis lesson.”
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Born on the island of Mallorca 4★ “When he was four years old, his uncle Toni gave him his first tennis lesson.”
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Born on the island of Mallorca in 1986, Rafael Nadal Parera was a talented child playing both soccer and tennis. One uncle played professional soccer and one was a tennis coach.
[image]
“From the moment that Rafa hit the ball, he showed all the qualities that make a remarkable tennis player: coordination, flexibility, agility, and quick reflexes.”
He was the top scorer on a winning soccer team, but he was also winning tennis matches against much older players. Because that’s where he felt his natural talent was, tennis was the sport he chose. Uncle Toni continued to coach him, and Rafa took it seriously.
[image]
“ Rafa was always the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave, having swept the court and picked up all of the balls.”
Poor kid, watching the others, all packed up and waving goodbye as he drags the cleaning mat up the court. I assume that’s Uncle Toni taking notes on the sidelines.
As he grew up, he was so dedicated that he continued playing a match with a broken finger and could hardly hold the trophy. He won countless matches – well, not countless, because there are people who count these things, but he was an amazing, resilient player.
He had countless injuries, and I bet they are countless, because who really wants to keep track of them? Each time I thought he was done, he came back, getting back into winning form.
In 2008, in the Wimbledon men’s finals, he and Roger Federer played a still-talked-about match.
[image]
“He played the most legendary tennis battle ever against Roger Federer, another exceptional player. They met in London at a Wimbledon tournament, and after four hours and forty-eight minutes, Rafa won the final.”
You can still watch it online if you have a spare five hours and a drink and a snack and an armchair and are prepared to exhaust yourself watching a pair of champions at work.
He’s also known for his charity work, and when his home island was quick to help in the floods that hit Mallorca.
[image]
“ Still, Rafa’s not just about tennis. When Mallorca, his home, was hit by devastating floods, he was among the first to help with the cleanup.”
As with all the Little People BIG DREAMS books, there are four photographs and a short biography at the end with a recommendation for further reading. Here are two that are how I think of Rafa. Never give up!
[image]
“Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning a point against France’s Arnaud Clement during the third and last day of their Davis Cup semifinal in Alicante, Spain Sunday Sept. 26, 2004. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)”
And always give back.
[image]
Rafael Nadal participating in a tennis clinic with children from The Child Center of NY at Flushing Meadows Tennis Center in Queens New York City, USA - 25.08.11”
He is, by all accounts, a lovely guy who never says no to charity. I enjoyed learning a bit about him in this little book (and in the rabbit holes I went down looking for more detail). The illustrations are colourful and appealing and would be excellent for a generic story about a tennis player, but they look nothing like Rafael Nadal, who has quite distinctive features. The headband helps.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review from which I’ve shared a few illustrations. It’s a terrific series.
[This is being published on 4 June 2024, the day after his 38th birthday. Happy birthday, Rafa!]
5★ Almost twenty years after writing her first song, Taylor made history as the first artist to hold all top-ten spots on the biggest US music chart.”
I5★ Almost twenty years after writing her first song, Taylor made history as the first artist to hold all top-ten spots on the biggest US music chart.”
I am not a Swiftie and haven’t followed her career, but as with Elvis and the Beatles, it would be hard to miss reports of her performances and whereabouts. She grew up on a Christmas tree farm with music-loving parents who named her after someone of whom I have long been a fan, James Taylor. I didn’t know that. See how I learn things from these children’s books?
[image]
“She believed in unicorns and fairy tales, but most of all, she believed in the power of songs to tell stories and change the world.”
Her grandmother was an opera singer, and when her dad took her to a country music concert, she felt the power of the singer sharing her feelings in song. So off they went, with Taylor dragging her parents to every festival and show she could find.
She took lessons, loved performing, and was quick to hop on a stage for karaoke. She loved it all. Unfortunately, where she lived in Pennsylvania, kids didn’t like her kind of music.
[image]
“Yet, school was a lonely place for Taylor. Most students didn’t think country music was cool, and a few of them made fun of her cowboy boots. But even though people weren’t always there for her, music was, and she kept pursuing her dream.”
That would be hard for any schoolgirl and would have crushed most, I think. But she took a demo tape of songs she’d covered to Nashville when she was only eleven. Great enterprising spirit, but it would have been lost in the piles of demos.
It was time to do her own thing – dream, write, and sing her own songs her own way.
[image]
“After being spotted at one of her gigs, Taylor recorded her first album for a record label. She became the youngest person ever to write and perform a number-one country song. It was honest, smart, and funny. Everyone loved it!”
Her second album, ‘Fearless’, won four Grammys when she was only twenty. Amazing!
[image]
“Her journey to becoming a megastar had just begun!”
She was growing up along with her young fans, who began following her as Swifties.
[image]
“She loved to include hidden messages for them in her lyrics and music videos.”
Before she even released her fifth album ‘1989’, she began letting fans preview it at her home.
[image]
“…she invited groups of eighty-nine of them to listen to it and eat cookies at her house.”
She grew up! She began making music in many different styles, touring the stages of the world, and campaigning for different causes.
[image]
“And Taylor, the little girl who believed in fairy tales, keeps achieving even her wildest dreams! She is one of the greatest artists of her generation and a friend to millions of fans who feel her music tells the story of their own lives.”
She seems to be that musical phenomenon, a genuinely nice girl, full of talent and compassion, but who refuses to be pushed around. The bio at the end tells about when the masters of her music were sold (without her permission), she re-recorded all of the albums and added some new ones. Well done, I say.
I particularly like this Little People BIG DREAMS book because the illustrations actually resemble the artist. I’m not a fan of the blocky cartoons of famous people that aren’t recognisable. And of course it’s nice to see an “uncool” girl, who seems like a genuinely nice, caring person, rise to the top. We could use more like her.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for a copy of #TaylorSwift for a review which includes a few of the illustrations. ...more
3.5~3★ “Ahoy there! Shouted Pirate Jim to Pirate Jake.”
Pirate Jake has no idea what’s going on.
[image]
“ ‘WHERE?’ wondered Pirate Jake, looking aro3.5~3★ “Ahoy there! Shouted Pirate Jim to Pirate Jake.”
Pirate Jake has no idea what’s going on.
[image]
“ ‘WHERE?’ wondered Pirate Jake, looking around in all directions. He couldn’t see a hoy anywhere.”
We can see his parrot flying overhead, but it’s no help at all. Jake decides to go look for hoys himself. He looks in all kinds of interesting places. No luck at all.
[image]
“ ‘I’LL NEVER BE A REAL PIRATE IF I CAN’T SEE A HOY!’”
He wonders what’s the matter with him. Then he has a look at his parrot and asks what’s the matter with it and why doesn’t it repeat everything he says, like a real pirate’s parrot.
He keeps going, clambering over flotsam and jetsam, onto another beach. At the bottom of a cliff, he spots a hidden cavern behind some vines.
[image]
“Pirate Jake raised his cutlass slowly and parted the seaweed with his blade.
‘Apirate there!’ came a whisper from deep inside the cave… ‘ A PIRATE THERE!’
Pirate Jake craned his neck forward and peered into the gloom… ‘AHOY THERE! He bellowed.”
Well, what a surprise! He found some real live hoys!
[image]
“ ‘Welcome to our home, Pirate Jake,’ said the hoys. ‘Would you care to join us for tea??’”
Not only did he (and the parrot) join them for tea, they spent the rest of the day with them.
[image]
“He swapped sea yarns with the hoys, danced sailor jigs with the hoys…”
At nightfall, he realised he’d better let his friends know he wasn’t lost. The were at the other end of the beach with lanterns, looking for him.
[image]
“ ‘Ahoy there!’ he called, as the twinkle of lights drew close. His pirate friends held their lanterns aloft and peered in all directions.”
His fellow pirates look puzzled and ask him where.
“ ‘Hahaarrgghh, now that would be telling!’ smiled Pirate Jake, a real pirate at last.”
The writing is lovely, with some very nice turns of phrase. The illustrations are exceptionally great – colourful, detailed, and humorous. Even the premise of the story, a confused pirate trying to find “a hoy”, should have been good, but it didn’t work for me. All the ingredients are there for the children’s picture books I love.
I’m not sure how I’d read this with a child, other than looking for things in the pictures. It is a very attractive production.
Thanks to NetGalley and Happy Yak publishing for the copy for review. ...more
5★ “Finally, it’s the last day of school. That means no more waking up early, no more pop quizzes, and most importantly, no more reading. ‘Enjoy the va5★ “Finally, it’s the last day of school. That means no more waking up early, no more pop quizzes, and most importantly, no more reading. ‘Enjoy the vacation, and don’t forget to read a book.’”
NO! That can’t possibly be right. It’s supposed to be a time for kids to have fun and relax. Our horrified student goes home to complain, presumably to Big Sister (since the dedication is to the author’s big sisters who showed her “the power of reading.”)
Big Sister says it’s time to hit the library. NO! Little Sister moans and groans to the cat, to no avail, who curls up and goes to sleep, as cats do. Big Sister makes good on her promise/threat, and to the library they go.
[image]
“They look even more boring when they’re all together. How do you choose? They’re all just quiet and tall.”
She browses unsuccessfully through a few. “A mermaid who wants to become human because of a handsome … prince? Puuuurlease.”
Notice that Big Sister, however, is turned slightly to the right, having spotted something peeping out of a book on the Adventures shelf.
“ ‘Why don’t you try this one? I read it when I was your age?’”
Little sister says it looks even bigger at home, like the longest book that ever existed. It will take all summer to read it.
[image]
Bright jungle colours, bright clothes and boots on our young reader, and she’s off, led by a small, mouselike creature with a mask and a big fluffy tail.
[image]
“ ‘No time for questions. Quick. Follow me! We are late!’”
There is a circuitous route on a map with many features detailed: “DARK MOUNTAINS (where big strange creatures live), The Big Piranha Swamp, Cave of Horror, pirates, witches, and a short-cut bridge (extremely dangerous), the Unknown Land”
Her guide explains they need to collect ingredients, and it’s a colourful hunt that ensues. Flowers, monsters, bats, pirates! “ ‘Something tells me this isn’t going to be a cake recipe.’”
Finally they arrive at the witches’ house where her guide will hunt for an ingredient while she has tea and chats, to distract the witches.
[image]
“’Quick! What’s taking so long?’ ”
All of a sudden her reading is rudely interrupted with a call to dinner and then bathtime. We see the book on the table, next to the bath, and under her arm as she brushes her teeth. She is told Lights Off, but is not ready for sleep. She whispers under the covers.
[image]
“ ‘I need to know how this ends. Where was I?’”
She returns to the story and her guide, who begins brewing the potion and, considering this is a children’s picture book and not a bestselling mystery, I feel I can reveal that the spell works! Her guide tells her she has fallen under the spell of a story. She admits she feels different.
[image]
“ ‘Can we go back to the library…? I am ready for my next adventure.’
‘Already? I thought you hated books.’”
[image]
“ ‘I think I’ll need to try out quite a few more just to make sure.’ ”
Much of the book is written in what looks like handwritten capital letters. When the girl is reading her book, her imaginary conversation is in the usual mixed upper and lower case ‘handwriting’, but the guide’s words are printed in whatever the book font is (a simple sans-serif type), to indicate what is sparking her imagination. There are many examples of the capital letters. Here is an example of the mixed fonts.
[image]
When she goes adventuring in her reading, she leaves the rather monochrome real world behind for the bright colours of the book, as she risks the perils of crossing dangerous bridges over deep ravines.
Author/illustrator Mariajo Ilustrajo has done a beautiful job of showing a girl discovering a whole new world. Notice the bright foxes (and mask) on Big Sister as she is engrossed in her own library book. Lovely touch.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review of #TheSpellOfAStory. It’s a delight....more
4★ “In class, Kylie was shy and quiet. She never took part in the school plays. But back home, her favorite game was singing for her friends.”
What chil4★ “In class, Kylie was shy and quiet. She never took part in the school plays. But back home, her favorite game was singing for her friends.”
What child hasn’t pretended to sing or make “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN” announcements into a hairbrush? Kylie Minogue was an Aussie girl who, by the looks of the illustration, was a big ABBA fan, as were all the kids (and parents) then.
[image]
“Using a broom as a microphone, she dreamed of being a star on stage.”
When she and her younger sister Dannii were still very young, their aunt took them to a soap opera audition. The crew thought she was just right, but it was Dannii who was ‘discovered’ on a kids’ television talent show and became a star first.
Kylie apparently loved helping Dannii with her heaps of fan mail, no doubt hoping to attract her own one day. After a few false starts, she hit the TV jackpot with “Neighbours”, and the fictional Ramsay Street hasn’t been the same since.
[image]
She made her name “playing Charlene, a feisty mechanic with a crush on her buddy, Scott. Everyone was hooked on their love story!”
Even with all of that going on, she remembered her music and recorded an old song, The Loco-Motion”, which became a hit around the world.
I remember reading an article by an Aussie who was so tired of hearing it on the radio, that they thought they’d be safe from it while travelling on the Oriental Express (or one of those far-flung exotic journeys). But no – before long, what should be played for the passengers’ entertainment, but Kylie singing “The Loco-Motion”.
[image]
“Kylie hadn’t forgotten her passion for music.”
She went to London, became even more famous but craved some independence. She was tired of not being asked for her opinion, so she went shopping – as one does – and bought clothes that she wanted to wear, not what the controlling recording company wanted.
She wore them in a video and was happy to be finally expressing herself.
[image]
“With every new song, Kylie made pop music fresh again. She experimented with awesome sounds, stunning looks, and spectacular music videos. The best artists, designers, and directors were thrilled to work beside her.”
I’m sure they were thrilled – they would have enjoyed basking in the glow of her success and hoping it would rub off on them.
When she was told she had breast cancer, she shared her diagnosis and treatment with the public, encouraging people to get tested.
She has long been an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and is still a major drawcard wherever she goes, headlining the famous Glastonbury Festival.
[image]
“ Kylie became the first female artist to have a chart-topping album five decades in a row. From the young to the young at heart, everyone grooved to the rhythm of her songs.”
The Princess of Pop still reigns!
This is a bright, attractive little biography that captures the look and mood of the various periods. Five decades is a long time, after all. I am disappointed that if I didn’t know the blonde was supposed to be Kylie, I would have had no idea who she was. She has such distinctive eyebrows and wide smile, that I thought they might have made an appearance.
There are only a couple of very small pictures in the film frames that hint at her famous gold hotpants and the other bright, fitted costumes she was renowned for. Kylie fans may not mind, but I did.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review of #Kylie Minogue....more
5★ “He was nine when he tried to catch a crocodile by jumping on its back for the first time.”
Typical Aussie boy trick – not! Steve Irwin became a hous5★ “He was nine when he tried to catch a crocodile by jumping on its back for the first time.”
Typical Aussie boy trick – not! Steve Irwin became a household name around the world. He came by his love for animals honestly.
[image]
“His mother was a nurse who dreamed of raising kangaroos, and his father was a plumber with a passion for reptiles.”
His parents moved the family to Queensland and opened Beerwah Reptile and Fauna Park when Steve was eight. Steve used to pick up wounded animals on his way to school and then look after them at home. They protected snakes and crocodiles too. He’d go out with his father to find some that needed saving and relocating.
When he was older, he went out into the bush to save crocodiles on his own.
[image]
“He was so good at rescuing the most dangerous animals that he soon became Australia’s top 'croc catcher.'”
Later, when he was managing the park and demonstrating working with crocodiles for tourists, he spotted his future wife, Terri – love at first sight!
[image]
“Their honeymoon was one of a kind! They spent it rescuing and relocating crocodiles and filming a wildlife documentary called 'The Crocodile Hunter.' The show was so successful that they decided to turn it into a television series.”
I remember watching the first documentary and commenting that it would have been nice to hear an Aussie narrate. But I said it was smart for Terri to do it because, as well as being part of the family, she has a pleasant American accent that would be easy for Americans to understand.
I grew up in the States and know how many Americans have trouble with their own regional accents, let alone those from another country. Closed captions mean I can now enjoy many shows from Ireland and the UK that I would struggle with. But I digress.
[image]
“When the first episode aired … crikey! It became a hit, not just in Australia but all over the world.”
“Crikey!” became a hit, too, and is often the first thing someone says when Steve’s name is mentioned.
He encourage a love of all animals, even those that terrify us, and he and Terri decided to grow their park into Australia Zoo, a place to protect and introduce all kinds of animals to the public.
[image]
“He turned it into one of the best zoos in the world—not just for the visitors but for the animals. And while the zoo expanded … so did the Irwin family!”
They began buying more land for conservation and founded Wildlife Warriors, a charity to protect the natural environment and the habitat of endangered animals around the world.
He has left a legacy possibly better than he could have dreamed of, although he dreamed pretty big. He is as big a household name today as he was when he died in 2006. I’m a fan of his work and am glad to see his name added to this collection of children’s biographies.
As always, there is a bit more detail at the end with four black and white photos, a couple of which I’ll share here.
[image]
Cute introduction to The Crocodile Hunter. Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Book for the copy for review of #SteveIrwin. [I trust they will correct the dates under the photos in my copy. ...more
4.5★ “When Nicky was born he was surrounded by love. And toys, of course. Lots and lots of toys.”
I think it’s safe to say that his uncles Hanz, Louis, 4.5★ “When Nicky was born he was surrounded by love. And toys, of course. Lots and lots of toys.”
I think it’s safe to say that his uncles Hanz, Louis, and Levi were toymakers extraordinaire. Their toys had special magic in them. He worked there every day when he was old enough.
[image]
“It was full of excited, happy children all wanting the latest Claus Brothers toys!”
What a colourful toy store! Behind the scenes, Nicky’s uncles were creating the perfect toy for each of the children, but Nicky noticed some other children looking in the window.
[image]
“Nicky would invite them inside, but they would always just run away.”
One Christmas Eve, he followed them through an unusual hole in the wall and down a tunnel. He could see, because there were jars of fireflies on the walls, flashing their little lights. Eventually he came to a big room full of children.
A little girl, Lottie, tells him they go above ground only to look for food and fireflies, and they have never had toys.
[image]
“Nicky realized that this was their home. A small girl stepped forward. Nicky couldn’t believe these children had to live this way. At that moment, he vowed that he would give every child in that room—no, every single child in the city—a present so they could feel happy, even if it was for just one day.”
Well, that’s commendable and easy for him to say. He’s not the one making the toys and putting in the magic. But it’s already Christmas Eve! Back to the toy store! His uncles are still working, and he announces his grand plan.
Can they do it? They must. They work feverishly, and begin packing up the toys.
[image]
[image]
“ ‘WAIT A MINUTE! How am I going to deliver ALL of these presents in one single night?!’”
[image]
“‘Well, young Nicky, we have a plan for that. Allow us to introduce you to the YYUULLEE 33000000!! A little something we’ve been working on recently.’”
Just to give an example of some of the detail in these illustrations, here is a close-up of the Yule 3000’s “carrot pouch”, wiring and twin exhausts (?!)
[image]
The bags are loaded and he’s off, with shouted reminders to remember to regularly feed carrots to the team of two reindeer. They have special propellers on their backs for flying, but they need extra carrots to be able to see in the dark.
Nicky makes his first stop on a rooftop, slides off the roof, tries all the doors and windows, but can’t find a way into the house. He hears a small voice coming from the chimney. It’s Lottie! She’s been chimney-sweeping and got stuck. He grabs the broom, and down they both tumble.
[image]
“It wasn’t as comfortable as going through a door, but it gave Nicky a great idea.”
With Lottie to help, they’d fly across the rooftops and be done in no time. But the reindeer won’t move.
[image]
“ ‘I forgot the carrots!’ Nicky said. ‘It’s too dark for the reindeer to see without them.’ “
Lottie climbed down, leaving Nicky alone with his thoughts, but in parting, she said. “ ‘I believe in you, kid.’ ”
That’s all very nice to hear, but Nicky is miserable, thinking he has ruined his great plan, and the night is getting darker. Then looking across the night sky and the snowy roofs, he saw a glimmer, and then it grew brighter and brighter.
[image]
“Nicky realized that sometimes, when all hope seems lost …a friend can help you find light in the darkness …And that’s when real-life magic truly happens.
‘The FIREFLIES! Incredible!’”
Nicky and Lottie and all the children fly through the night on the Yule 3000, delivering gifts to all the children in the city. When they’d completed their trip, Nicky surprised them back at the toy shop with extra-special gifts for each of them.
As things gradually settle down in the toy store, Nicky and his uncles plan for an even bigger event the following year – gifts for all the children in the world,
[image]
“But for this plan to work they would need lots of Little Helpers to assist them. Ones who understood how real-life magic truly worked.”
The illustration above is just a corner of the full picture, which shows all the children helping in the workshop. In addition to these children finding a new life, I wanted to emphasise a sign and three characters. The black sign says “The Christmas Coalition”, and Lottie is telling the characters “ ‘Welcome to the workshop, our global partners.’”
The three she’s addressing are wearing badges saying “Snow Maiden,” “Nisse,” and “Krampus” - mythological characters from northern folk tales. It’s a nice touch.
I’m sure it seems I’ve shared a lot of the illustrations, but many are just small parts of pages with more story and pictures. They are wonderful, better than the story itself, but I think they lift it enough to make this a special Christmas book. There’s plenty to look at and point to and talk about, and it’s a nice twist on the usual Saint Nick, Santa Claus story.
I should mention that the author is also the illustrator, and I think he has done his story proud.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Book for a copy for review of #KidChristmas....more
4★ “Wolfgang composed his first piece on this keyboard instrument, even before he knew how to put the music down. He was only five!”
Wolfgang Mozart was4★ “Wolfgang composed his first piece on this keyboard instrument, even before he knew how to put the music down. He was only five!”
Wolfgang Mozart was born in Salzburg, in what is now Austria, into a musical family. His father was a well-known musician, teaching his children the harpsichord. How cute is this little fellow with his powdered wig!
[image]
“He learned how to play the keyboard just by watching his older sister, Nannerl, his hero.”
It was obvious his sister was gifted and he was a genius, so his father took the two of them around Europe and even to perform at court.
[image]
“Every place gave them the chance to discover new music styles and learn from other musicians.”
I’ve enlarged a couple of the illustrations from the page above. They are whimsical, but I don’t know how big the actual book is to know how easy it is to see the details.
[image]
In the picture above, Wolfgang is playing blindfolded.
In the picture below, he is playing an enormous organ for astounded monks.
[image]
His sister was older and was of an age to be married, so she was no longer allowed to travel with Wolfgang. He continued to impress. He composed a symphony in his head when he was eight, could write choir music from memory after he’d heard it, and was invited to write an opera in Milan.
As an adult, he became the city concertmaster, but that wasn’t enough, so it was time to hit the road again. He looks more as if he’s fleeing (with his piano) rather than making a stately carriage trip!
[image]
“But, just as the flute didn’t make his heart sing, neither did Salzburg, so he moved to the exciting city of Vienna.”
There he composed everything, the music he’s known for, and got married. He and his wife loved music and fine things, but they had to borrow money to pay their debts.
[image]
“Wolfgang worked tirelessly as a performer and composer, even writing pieces while bowling with his friends.”
There are a few illustrations with people in wheelchairs, which is a nice touch, I think. Everyone loved his music, and he was even asked to write a requiem, which became a favourite with the public. There seemed to be nothing he couldn’t do.
He fill ill when writing the requiem, but the book doesn’t mention how young he was when he died – he was not quite 37. My preview copy has the four black and white prints at the back but doesn’t include the dates and biographical notes that I am sure are in the finished book.
It also doesn’t mention his middle name in the story, which surprises me, since most people (I know) refer to Mozart, or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Perhaps it is in the notes.
This seems a little lighter on the historical details than usual, again perhaps because I am missing the notes. Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the preview copy of #Mozart. ...more
4★ “Being afraid sometimes is quite normal. Everyone feels afraid at some time or other.”
We certainly do. This book is about a little boy who is afrai4★ “Being afraid sometimes is quite normal. Everyone feels afraid at some time or other.”
We certainly do. This book is about a little boy who is afraid of everything – something under his bed, for example. He’s jumps at shadows, but to be fair, if I happened to spot a shadow like this on a wall near me and couldn’t see the cute cat that made it, I’d jump too!
[image]
“There were many kinds of things that scared Fred. But it was the unexpected things that worried him most.”
So just imagine what he must have felt when suddenly there was a big black spot in the sky!
[image]
“Too frightened to look straight at it, Fred did what anyone in his position would do...”
He looks absolutely miserable, tiny and alone, as the rain pours down. It’s possible this is his imagined, personal rainstorm, because his friend Coco is standing out in bright sunshine, looking straight at it.
He thinks she would be surprised if she saw what he did. But it seems she didn’t.
[image]
“Coco did what anyone in her position would do...She decided to help Fred see things from her point of view.”
She holds out her hand to him, and he takes it as they walk. Fred talks about THE SPOT and the scary things he thinks it could be – a moon blown out of orbit – while Coco talks about big bubbles and birthday balloons.
They play with some very big balloons, tossing them back and forth. Again, whether this is supposed to be real or imagined, I don’t know.
Coco convinces him to go out and sit right under THE SPOT and talk about all the wonderful things it might be.
As the light fades, they notice THE SPOT has a sparkly string hanging down.
[image]
“Together they decided to investigate.” The string is actually a rope ladder, and the children climb inside THE SPOT (whatever it is). We see them peering out of THE SPOT as if it is a porthole, looking at a sky full of colourful shapes. Then they leap out and slide down.
[image]
“The world is fizzing with things. Scary things, terrific things, wonderful things. Some things we know, and some things we don’t. And even though these things can sometimes make us feel afraid and unsure...together we can find them out…”
The children are tiny and simply drawn while the big world is full of visual ‘noise’ that might disturb a nervous child. I like the way Coco is shown as naturally curious, but that she understands her friend’s discomfort.
Thanks to #Netgalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the preview copy of #AnUnexpectedThing....more
3.5★ “Once upon a time, a girl called Diana was born into a noble British family. She was the third daughter, and not the son and heir that her parents3.5★ “Once upon a time, a girl called Diana was born into a noble British family. She was the third daughter, and not the son and heir that her parents had hoped for. Still, she was such a breath of joy that she became the apple of her father’s eye.
I think it’s generally accepted that Diana also brought a breath of joy and fresh air to the British royal family when she married Prince Charles. The first illustration after her birth, is Diana and her little brother waving goodbye to her mother when her parents were divorcing.
[image]
“From that day on, the children lived only with their father, and Diana did her best to take care of her younger brother, Charles.”
She seemed destined to care for others (and neglect herself). She was sent to boarding school where she wasn’t much of a student but enjoyed music and dance, with talents both as a pianist and ballerina. Her caring nature was recognised with an award for kindness to others, not a trait I recall seeing acknowledged when I was in school, but it should be.
We see her meet Charles at a polo match, and the next page is the wedding! The world watched on television – 750 million viewers, the book says. From there to the countless Royal events.
[image]
“Wherever the couple went for their royal duties, thousands of waving hands welcomed them both. Still, Diana captivated people the most with her freshness and charm.”
I don’t know if you can see in this illustration that Charles is smiling in the first three, but he’s frowning in the last one, as he holds an umbrella, presumably intended to be over Diana as children line up to hug her – which lead us to the next page – another divorce.
[image]
“But even though her life seemed to be taken from the pages of a fairy tale, Diana soon realized that the prince’s heart belonged to someone else. She fell into a deep sadness. Over time, that sadness grew into an eating disorder called bulimia.”
This is getting into surprisingly serious territory for a children’s picture book. I don’t think it’s ever too early to help children understand that some people may have problems we don’t know about. I’m sure I recall seeing a photograph that looked something like the picture of her below, on the kitchen floor after a big event.
[image]
“Whenever she felt alone, she felt better by eating all the treats she could find in the royal kitchens. But that sweet feeling of comfort didn’t last long. Once it was gone, she would try to get rid of all the food she had eaten by making herself throw up.”
As I said, this gets pretty serious. The book goes on to say how she found help and learned to love herself. She spoke publicly about bulimia, helping others again. It shows her smiling as she’s followed by photographers and accepting flowers from children.
We see her love for her boys, and I’m sure the pictures come from photographs we’ve probably seen.
[image]
“Diana blossomed into an independent princess. She knew that the best way to serve the Crown was by being a caring mother for her children, William and Harry.”
She was in the news daily, hugging AIDS patients and advocating for the removal of landmines.
[image]
“Whatever she did was in the news, and she used that fame to help others.”
[image]
“Still, she kept charming people with her own kind of magic and shining a light on important causes, from mental-health issues to animal rights.”
I have simply summarised this tiny biography and have refrained from criticism so far. First, I think this is the wrong artist for this person. Diana was famous for her delicate beauty, grace and elegance. I think an artist with a different style would have been a better choice.
Several pictures, particularly the one above of her with the boys, make her look like a heavy, dowdy suburban mum. It’s easy to find the original photos online, and no matter what she is wearing, she seems slender and graceful.
The short biography at the end with four real photos, still doesn’t really explain how ‘royal’ Diana was. She was extended family to the Queen, having been born and raised on the royal Sandringham Estate and calling Charles’s grandmother, (the Queen Mother), “Aunt Lilibet”. She played with the younger princes, Andrew and Edward when she was little. Charles was 12 years older, but she was not a stranger to the royal household.
I applaud the focus on her caring nature and the causes she supported and promoted. I’m also pleased to see the points made about her troubles and how she sought help for them. I wish it had looked less like someone else and more like her.
Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review....more
5★ “You couldn’t ask for a more wonderful place to stay. Everything runs like clockwork.”
From go to whoa, the team that runs the Incredible Hotel in De5★ “You couldn’t ask for a more wonderful place to stay. Everything runs like clockwork.”
From go to whoa, the team that runs the Incredible Hotel in Delaunay works like clockwork because each person knows when to do what, starting with young Stefan.
[image]
“Every morning at 5am, Stefan the kitchen porter brews the coffee … which wakes the chef …who makes the breakfast … to give to the butler...to take to the Hotel Manager.”
Then the day ends with Stefan, dreaming as he works.
[image]
“And every night at 11pm, as the Hotel Manager takes his bath … and the chef eats her dinner, perfectly seasoned as usual … Stefan does the washing up, and dreams of making cakes.”
But kitchen porters don’t make cakes. They carry and clean.
[image]
“and say ‘YES CHEF!’ even when they want to say ‘No’!”
Then early one day, Mr Starch, the manager, announces that they are going to hold a grand ball to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the hotel. To top it off, the Duchess of Delaunay will be coming, and she is known for being so picky that she shuts down hotels!
What to do? Mr Starch says the Duchess loves profiteroles, so he asks the chef to create a big profiterole tower – “the tallest, creamiest, most profiteroley tower in history.”
Everybody gets to work, baking, cleaning, and preparing the hotel. The chef keeps building her profiterole tower but it wasn’t sticking together. Stefan has been making coffee to keep her awake and is allowed to whip the cream, but when he suggests using caramel to hold her tower in place, she scolds him, says his coffee isn’t good and tells him to get out of her kitchen “and DON’T COME BACK!”
She laughs “a horrible laugh” when he says he wants to be a chef.
As he walks away sadly, we see everyone in the hotel polishing and preparing for the ball. Stefan goes home, makes some good coffee and a wonderful profiterole tower!
[image]
“But he didn’t have the heart to eat it.”
The next day,
[image]
“On the morning of the ball, without Stefan, things did not run like clockwork at The Incredible Hotel. No one brewed the coffee to wake the chef … so she didn’t make the breakfast …”
and so on and so on. If you can see the middle picture, you will notice the bread burning in the oven – oops! The fire department comes running as the chef cries out!
[image]
“MY KITCHEN!... My recipe book! My profiterole tower! Help, Stefan! There isn’t a moment to lose!”
No Stefan. The Duchess and guests are arriving already, so the manager suggests a tour of the grounds! But the Duchess says she has been promised dancing and a profiterole tower.
[image]
“Before Mr Starch could stop her… she marched into the grand ballroom.”
The Duchess is drenched, getting angrier and angrier, threatening to broadcast far and wide that the hotel is not incredible, it is TERRIBLE.
“She stormed to the door with her nose in the air – But then she stopped and sniffed. She could smell something creamy, something chocolatey, something truly incredible…”
[image]
“THE PROFITEROLE TOWER. ‘You’re back!’ cried Mr. Starch. ‘I saw the fire, and I wanted to help,’ said Stefan.” The Duchess takes a bite and pronounces it sublime! When she congratulates the chef, Mr Starch introduces Stefan, the kitchen porter. The chef shouts “NO! He’s not our kitchen porter anymore… he’s our PASTRY CHEF! That is, if he would like to be…”
As if there would be any doubt! Yes, Stefan would, and he helps everyone create a wonderful back-to-front feast after which the chef presents him with a chef’s hat.
[image]
“He felt as tall as the profiterole tower.”
These days you will find Stefan, in the kitchen, baking up a storm, including his famous profiteroles, and he’s still brewing the coffee every morning. We see him and the chef clinking coffee cups at a table with some of his goodies.
This has to be one of my favourite children’s books. It has 32 full-size pages of delightful detail and humour, beautifully illustrated. The characters all have expressive faces, and there are background scenes and little animals tucked here and there. The use of detail and humour reminds me of how much my family enjoyed the Richard Scarry books, with amusing hidden gems to find.
As an example, on the page where the Duchess is arriving for the celebrations, we can see part of something through a window behind her. It turns out to be Stefan, carrying his enormous profiterole into the hotel. All we see is his leg, a hand, and a lot of colourful objects. I expect there is more to find if I look.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the preview copy of #TheIncredibleHotel....more
5★ “There’s a Thing on my street. He lives at number 52.”
The narrator is a young child, maybe ten or twelve, who walks to school every day past the Thi5★ “There’s a Thing on my street. He lives at number 52.”
The narrator is a young child, maybe ten or twelve, who walks to school every day past the Thing’s house. In the first picture we can see a big, soft, grey shape in a garden, and on the crosswalk at the very edge of the page is the child and the mother. [image] “I see him sitting in his front yard when I walk to school.”
The child is worried. The thing seems to be all alone at home and when out shopping.
“I don’t think he has any friends.”
And that’s where a lot of us would leave it, right? We’d say what a pity, and go about our lives. Not this youngster. They ask ‘Mom’ if they could buy the Thing a flower. It was a hit! [image] “ ‘Come inside,’ he said. ‘I was just about to have a cup of gravy.’”
In the picture, we can just see mom outside the gate, letting the child and the Thing get acquainted, but keeping an eye on the interaction. Not only a cup of gravy is on the menu, but the Thing has a fridge full of jars of mustard! [image] “ ‘Don’t you get lonely living by yourself?’ I asked him. ‘All things are lonely sometimes,’ said the Thing.”
Children don’t like lonely, so this kid starts to visit, sit outside, go on the train, take excursions with the Thing. Mom doesn’t seem to be along on these outings. One day, as they’re sitting out in the open somewhere, they look up.
High in the sky, another Thing is floating! [image] “ ‘Where is it going?’” I asked. ‘Who knows?’ said the Thing. ‘But all Things have to go sometime.’”
The child asks if there are more Things in the world. Of course. Hundreds! That sparks an idea, so the child writes out invitations, Mom makes the Thing have a bath, and the party is on! All the Things have tiny hats, and Mom is rocking out in the top left corner, too. [image] “The Things danced till midnight and drank all the gravy.”
It was a great success. They wander outside to sit under the stars and the Thing says thank you for the party. The child wants to plan one for next year, okay? [image] “But the Thing didn’t say anything. Suddenly he looked very old. And then I realized what was happening. ‘No,’ I said. ‘All things have to go sometime,’ said the Thing sadly.”
[image] “The Thing hugged me. The wind blew through the trees, and he was gone.”
That is the Thing’s tiny hat sitting near the feet of the child. Unbelievably sad.
Life goes on. Mom and the child clean up the Thing’s house and reminisce about the fun and adventures they had. Then a young family with a baby move in. The Thing would have liked that, thinks the child.
In the last picture, we see the child happily playing board games with more Things, everyone enjoying afternoon drinks that Mom is bringing.
I’ve included so many pictures to show how universal this story can be. The advertising blurbs speak of a little girl and a monster. I don’t think the child is necessarily a little girl. In one illustration, the corner of the backpack looks pink, but that’s it.
We don’t really know anything about the child – the age, gender, ethnicity, or culture. We assume it’s North America because the mother is Mom. Mom is in overalls and a tee-shirt, looking more modern than agricultural, but we can’t really tell her ethnicity either.
Whether or not this was intentional, I think this makes this story accessible for many families and children. The faces and hair could be from different backgrounds, and with people from all over the world moving to countries that are foreign to them, I think this a wonderful way to make sure that many young readers could see themselves in this story.
The topics are serious ones – “others”, difference, inclusion, empathy, loss, grief – it covers a lot of territory, and it deserves to capture the attention of the public. I hope it does.
The illustrations are magnificent. Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review.
5★ “I can tell from the minute I wake up that it is going to be a bad day.”
[image]
“First of all, it’s cloudy.”
You can see where this is going, can’5★ “I can tell from the minute I wake up that it is going to be a bad day.”
[image]
“First of all, it’s cloudy.”
You can see where this is going, can’t you? Look at the size of that ‘cloud’. This cute but grouchy little rabbit is just determined to see the bad in everything! The glass of milk is half empty, the chocolate chip cookies don’t have enough chocolate. (At breakfast?!)
Nothing goes right, but outside, their complaint is that everyone is happy. We see a street scene where everyone, without exception has a neutral expression. The next illustration is exactly the same scene a few seconds later, and everyone certainly is NOT happy.
[image]
“Lucky them.”
Note the crying baby in the pram, the character being splashed by the car, the tall dog on the far left by the traffic light who’s just stepped into . . . well, you get the idea. Whatever can go wrong, has gone wrong. Our rabbit doesn’t notice, apparently.
School is no better. Everybody is having a good time playing, but not our little friend who is convinced everything they do comes out wrong.
[image]
“Nobody understands me.”
The artwork is up on the wall now, and you can see what everyone has drawn.
[image]
Notice anything? A kindred spirit, perhaps?
They find each other. Next it’s hide-and-go-seek time, and the two little grumpies hide under the same mat with their feet sticking out and frown because they are found immediately. Then it’s time for a little something.
[image]
“At snack time, I get a pear. I do not like pears.”
[image]
“But I love apples.”
SWAP!
Notice how their sleep mats are side by side at the bottom of the page. A nice change! Each has one eye open.
[image]
“At nap time, everyone is asleep. Except for us.”
In the following pages, these two rascals are playing all sorts of games with each other and drawing regular pictures. The bell rings too soon!
When asked how their day was, they answer together.
[image]
“It was the BEST BAD DAY EVER!”
Whether they are tossing their toys in the air in jubilation or because they don’t need them now that they have each other, I don’t know. I’m sure they’ll want them at bedtime, but how nice they must feel understood.
There is a lot of detail in many of these illustrations, even though they are simply drawn. It’s the kind of picture book that is easy to ask questions about so that children think about what they’re hearing in the words compared to what they’re seeing. There is a lot of scope for conversations.
The author is also the illustrator, and I especially appreciate the use of animals so that any child can identify with any character.
It’s an absolute delight, and I thank NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review.
PattyMacDotComma
>
Books:
children-young
(245)
Loading...
