REVIEWERS IN THIS ISSUE BfK


Brian Alderson is founder of the Children’s Books History Society and a former Children’s Books Editor for The Times. Gwynneth Bailey is a freelance education and children’s book consultant. Clive Barnes, formerly Principal Children’s Librarian, Southampton City is a freelance researcher and writer. Diane Barnes, was a librarian for 20 years, mostly as a children’s specialist, working in Kent, Herts, Portsmouth and Hampshire, and Lusaka (Zambia) with the British Council. Jill Bennett is the author of Learning to Read with Picture Books and heads up a nursery unit. Jon Biddle is English Coordinator/Reading Champion at Moorlands Primary Academy in Norfolk, and co-founder of the Patron of Reading scheme. Rebecca Butler writes and lectures on children’s literature. Jane Churchill is a children’s book consultant. Stuart Dyer is an Assistant Head Teacher in a Bristol primary school. Anne Faundez is a freelance education and children’s book consultant. Janet Fisher is a children’s literature consultant. Geoff Fox is former Co-Editor (UK) of Children’s Literature in Education, but continues to work on the board and as an occasional teller of traditional tales. Sarah Gallagher is a headteacher and director of Storyshack.org www.storyshack. org


Christine Hammill teaches in a college of further education and is also an author Ferelith Hordon is a former children’s librarian and editor of Books for Keeps Matthew Martin is a primary school teacher. Sue McGonigle is a Lecturer in Primary Education and Co-Creator of www.lovemybooks.co.uk Dr. Lucy Pearson is Lecturer in Children’s Literature, Newcastle University. Margaret Pemberton is a school library consultant and blogs at margaretpemberton.edublogs.org. Val Randall is Head of English and Literacy Co-ordinator at a Pupil Referral Unit. Andrea Reece is Managing Editor of Books for Keeps. Sue Roe is a children’s librarian. Elizabeth Schlenther is the compiler of www.healthybooks.org.uk Nicholas Tucker is honorary senior lecturer in Cultural and Community Studies at Sussex University.


Ed’s Choice Ready to Ride HHHH


Sebastien Pelon, trans Vanessa Miéville,words & pictures, 32pp, 978-1-91027-772-0, £11.99 hbk


Learning to ride a bicycle is not easy. Of course, it is fine if you have stabilisers or “little wheels”. But you will need a great deal of encouragement – especially if it rains while you are out. In this charming picture book Sebastien Pelon charts the progress of a small boy as he sets out on his safe bike to progress, despite some accidents and a certain amount of plaster, to the freedom of the “grown-up bike”. A cool palette – soft greys gentle browns, moss greens


provide the landscape


through which his young protagonist wobbles, falls and pedals, while he himself is shown as a line drawing, a figure in a black jumper. But there is nothing insubstantial about him. The artist’s deft lines ensure that he has a satisfying solidity. The one constant spot of colour is the pink


The Night Dragon HHHH


Naomi Howarth, Lincoln, 32pp, 978-1-78603-103-7, £11.99hbk


Naomi Howarth has established herself as an illustrator who brings colour to the page. In her new picture book this is especially true. Maud is a dragon, a night dragon whose sooty breath will cover the sky to bring on nightfall. However Maud does not fly or breathe fire and soot; she is despised by the others. But what will happen when those others fail to wake up in time to bring the night? Will Maud find the courage to spread her wings? Mouse is convinced she can. When she does something amazing happens. In the past Howarth has taken a traditional tale to work with but here she is the author. The result is a charming tale to bring delight to that story at bedtime. While the theme is familiar – coping with difference, having courage to be oneself – here it is neatly packaged and beautifully presented.


Maud, rather than


covering the sky with dark clouds covers it in vivid colours; sunset colours. Howarth makes good use of the double page spread, creating a lovely sense of space through which the dragons can tumble and fly – an illusion that becomes all important when we see Maud flying around the world to bring night heralded by glorious


reds, yellows and orange.


And then the final cheeky wave of her tail as she disappears leaving those sooty dragons behind. FH


reviews


Under 5s Pre – School/Nursery/Infant Cyril and Pat


HHHHH


Emily Gravett, Two Hoots, 32pp, 978-1-5098-5727-2, £12.99 hbk


Cyril is lonely. There are no other squirrels in the park – at least, that is what he thinks, until he meets Pat. Together they have fun. But Pat is not a squirrel. Does this matter if he is a good friend? A lively rhyming text with a very


(or is it red) hat of the creature who accompanies the boy on his learning


journey, a large, softly


lumpy looking creature. Is it a father substitute? Or an imaginary friend? Does it matter? The assurance with which Pelon engages


the attention


presents and


him the


imagination. There are no dragons, wild chases, dreadful jeopardy but at no point does the action flag. We move between vignettes, visual descriptions, and spacious spreads sharing our hero’s tentative steps through near disaster to triumph – and a certificate for a Super Cyclist. Masterly and engaging. FH


Loved to Bits HHHHH


Teresa Heapy. Illus. Katie Cleminson, David Fickling Books, 32pp, 978-1-910-200-63-6, £11.99 hbk


Both Teresa Heapy and Katie Cleminson have


established


themselves as picture book creators. Here they team up and the result is this satisfyingly attractive book.


picture Heapy’s gentle rhyming text


has a flowing rhythm that is perfectly matched by Cleminson’s illustrations. The illustrator’s bold ink outlines are ideal for creating the cuddly body of a teddy bear especially when combined with her soft textured palette. They also provide the perfect visual vehicle


for the adventures


enjoyed by Ted and his friend, adventures that are the product of a vivid imagination – but real no less – hence the accidents that befall Ted. Particularly satisfying is Cleminson’s ability to fill the page; the images are both childlike and child friendly as is the text, a comfortable font size and well placed to integrate with the illustrations, matching the pictorial experience to the narrative. Here is a story of the friendship that can only exist between a child and a toy – an unconditional friendship that has no regard for consequences or appearances and is totally satisfying. This is a book rooted in childhood experience and should be enjoyed by the youngest readers who will see themselves in the pages as well as nostalgic adults sharing it. FH


catchy refrain designed to catch the listeners out as they joyfully join in, is the perfect accompaniment to Gravett’s witty illustrations. Making full use of each spread, her energetic lines convey humour and action to engage the young reader as Cyril and Pat leap, bound and bounce round the park. Her colour palette matches the mood; the park a lush green space


framed by grey buildings.


There is jeopardy as well as the mood changes and with it the visual tension; gone are the vignettes, instead a series of dark dangerous double


spreads emphasise poor


Cyril’s situation. Throughout there are amusing details to be discovered – there is a badger icon on the rubbish bin, a badger called Pete, perhaps. We are reminded of an earlier picture book. However, this is not just a piece of nonsense. As with all Gravett’s books there is more as she highlights prejudice and assumptions based on stereotypes – Pat is after all a dirty, thieving rat according to the other animals. But, as Cyril and Pat demonstrate – and young readers will have realised – friendship can transcend such attitudes. Another gem from this creator


of picture books that never fail to delight. FH


Molly and the Stormy Sea HHHH


Malachy Doyle, ill. Andrew Whitson, Graffeg 32pp, 9 781912 050130, £7.99 pbk


When Molly wakes on a stormy morning to find the house empty, she realises that something is very wrong. She gets dressed, grabs her most precious


possessions and


rushes


to the harbour wall, where she sees her mother with other women praying that the red fishing boat that went out with three fishermen will come back. On the shore, she gives to the sea her tiny cowrie shells, her photo of her father, and lastly and in desperation, her beloved doll, Megan, and begs the sea to bring back her Daddy. The sea takes each offering, and nothing seems to happen. Her eyes full of tears, Molly watches Megan until she is a speck on the horizon…. and then there is a shout from the harbour wall: “A boat!” The little red fishing boat with all three men on board comes home, and anyone who is moved by that moment at the end


Books for Keeps No.232 September 2018 19


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