reviews 5 – 8 Infant/Junior continued The Cook and the King HHHH


Julia Donaldson, ill. David Roberts, Macmillan, 978 1 5098 1377 3, £11-99,hbk


There once was a very hungry king / Who needed a cook like anything. Sailing on the enormous interest in baking and cooking of all kinds comes


this latest Julia Donaldson. Julia


offering from creates her


characteristic rhyming couplets which just bounce along making the tale come alive. She has partnered with David Roberts on several other successful books, and this one is both quirky and endearing. Cooking food seems to be a subject that interests children, with many a young fan of the popular Bake Off TV programme. So the theme of this tale will appeal, as the exasperated King is seen attempting to find himself a new cook. Testing the skills of many a hopeful applicant, their offerings are declared “Too hot! Too cold! Too sour! Too smelly!” by the grumpy King. Roberts gives lots of opportunities to spot the applicants’ odd culinary “treats”, from a melting ice swan to a blackbird pie, to sausages stuck in green jelly. The King then spies a nervous applicant who introduces himself as Wobbly Bob. He sure does wobble, for he is scared of... well, everything! Yet the King decides to take him on adventure after adventure, declaring first that He wants fish and chips…. which involves catching their fish then digging the potatoes. Wobbly Bob gets away with wimping out of every following activity, telling us he is scared of worms, and ants, and knives, that he is scared, just terribly scared. Every time the King comes up trumps, until there HRH is, prepping the entire fish and chips meal whilst Wobbly Bob hovers, wobbling in the background. A cat and a mouse appear somewhere on each spread making for good hunting for the reader as the King and Wobbly Bob move


towards


sharing their sumptuous meal. The constantly


recurring phrases from


each character will encourage young readers to join in, speedily moving on the narration. The whole story could be well


Angry Cookie HHHH


Laura Dockrill, ill. Maria Karipidou, Walker, 40pp, 978 1 4063 8308 9, £699 pbk


Chocolate chip cookies are not usually known for their anger issues, but this one certainly has them! He (I think it’s a ‘he’) doesn’t want us, the readers, around. He says he’s very angry and wants us to leave: ‘I am warning you. I am very angry. And there is nothing you can do about it.’ Well, we can stick around, and that is exactly


presented as a dramatic


production, and, surprise, surprise, the position of cook to the King goes to Wobbly Bob! Splendid fun. GB


what we do. We finally hear just why the Cookie is angry. His ‘flatmate’ – a cactus – plays the recorder, and Cookie HATES the recorder; the nice- tasting toothpaste has run out, so he must use the grown-up sort; he’s had his hair cut, and it looks terrible; and to top it all off, the ice cream shop has run out of his favourite vanilla sundae! It’s enough to make any Cookie angry! But because we have stayed and listened to his moans, he begins to realise that maybe there is some point to having a friend after all. And he finds that friends can help make him happy. And just maybe, we, too see the point of listening to our friends when they talk about their problems.


The illustrations are a


treat – full of other foodie creatures like bananas and strawberries and chocolates, all of whom add to the zany fun. “Who needs an ice cream… when I have you,” says Cookie. ES


The Garden of Hope HHHHH


Isabel Otter, ill. Katie Rewse, Caterpillar Books, 26pp, 978 1 84857 713 8, £11.99 hbk


Maya and her dad and Pip the dog live alone now that mum has gone away. Has mum died, or has she left them for some other reason? This is not specified, and that is a good thing. They are suffering; that is all we need to know. And the anxiety and worry are clear. They are in “a bit of a mess”, both in the house and in the garden. When dad tells Maya that mum used to plant flowers in the garden when she felt low. Maya determines to do the same thing, and in the true spirit of that classic, The Secret Garden, she does just that, first weeding and getting the soil ready and then planting many different seeds. Sometimes Pip digs them up, but Maya perseveres, and when the garden begins to bloom, other creatures appear, such as butterflies and beetles and birds and bugs of all sorts – even a hedgehog and a fox! The pages of the story bloom too, gloriously, and we see all this growth and joy and bliss, and dad and Maya know hope once again. This is a thoroughly uplifting and beautiful book with outstanding illustrations that really lighten the heart and spirit. ES


Ruby’s Worry HHHH


Tom Percival, Bloomsbury, 32pp, 978 1 4088 9215 2, £6.99 pbk


Anxiety is a major area of concern in children’s literature these days, and this simple but effective story is an interesting addition to the genre. Ruby is a very happy, contented girl, but one day a small worry comes into her life. We don’t know what it is, but what we see is a yellow-coloured creature always by her side, and because she continues to think about the worry, it becomes bigger and bigger until it threatens to takeover her life. Ruby is


no longer happy, but no one seems to notice: ‘Ruby didn’t realise, but she was doing the worst thing you can ever do with a Worry…she was worrying about it.’ It is only when she sees a boy in the park who also looks anxious and is accompanied by a large blue creature that she begins to know that other people have worries too. Sitting down by the boy, she asks him what is wrong – and he tells her. His blue worry starts shrinking, and when Ruby also talks about hers, her yellow worry also disappears. They are both delighted and have learned the important lesson of talking about their anxieties. Ruby now knows just what to do when a new worry develops. The pictures with their personalised worries are a delight, and the changing colours from light to dark reflect Ruby’s changing moods. An excellent way of explaining to children the only real way to get rid of one’s concerns is to talk about them. ES


Splash Day HHH


Nick Sharratt, Barrington Stoke, 80pp,9781781128275, £6.99 pbk


This is from the Barrington Stoke Little Gem series and is a little gem. It is a perfect chapter book for early readers who are just venturing in to a little more text one each page. It’s a great hand held size and is based on an actual splash day which takes place in a school in Brighton says Nick Sharratt, the author. It is a straightforward story told in a bright and colourful way through rhyme. There is suspense at


the


beginning as there are all sorts of ‘vessels’ out in the playground and we wonder why. It really makes you think about the excitement engendered in a special day like a splash day – we probably don’t think of it in the same way as adults at times so regaining the joy of this is rather good for us! The pages then introduce all the characters who will take part in the splash day including all the teachers - great drawings of people with rubber


rings, flippers and wet suits… This all builds up into splashing itself, there is a surprise in store for all the pupils too. The book wraps up nicely with everybody drying out. This is a perfect pocket first


chapter book encourager with those distinctive, humorous Nick Sharratt illustrations and rhyme. SG


What do you do if your house is a zoo?


HHH


John Kelly, ill. Steph Laberis, Little Tiger Press Ltd, 32pp, £10.99 hbk


John Kelly, ill. Steph Laberis, Little Tiger Press Ltd, 32pp, £10.99 hbk


This is a colourful big picture book about pandemonium caused when one Mum and Dad finally agree that their son can have a pet. Their son, Oscar, puts an advert on a noticeboard saying “Could you be the pet for me?” Lots of very interesting replies then follow. The book is set out in letter form with different fonts representing the different animal’s handwriting. The different pictures reveal the characters but so do the


letters


themselves. These are for a slightly older reader or to be enjoyed being read. The humour is multi layered so there is something for everyone. For example the Gorilla’s card reads “Greetings, tiny adorable human…. You will be the perfect pet for me!” All the animals think they will be


perfect for Oscar and descend on the house which soon descents into chaos. At one point Mum can’t leave as the meerkat sentries have put bouncers on the gate! The cartoons are quirkily, sketchily drawn which gives lots of life and zaniness to the proceedings. There is a mixture of compartmentalised pages of pictures and big pictures which engages the reader AND a sweet


ending. You


might guess which pet Oscar goes for in the end but it doesn’t matter - it’s an enjoyable story with great animal fun. SG


8 – 10 Junior/Middle


First Prize for the Worst Witch HHHH


Jill Murphy, author and illus, Puffin, 185pp, 978-0-141-35509-2, £9.99 hbk


This book is the latest in the series of Worst Witch novels begun in 1974. In this adventure Mildred, Maud and Enid return for their fourth year at Miss Cackle’s Academy for witches. There is a ceremony known as Fourth Year Firsts, where trainee witches are given prizes for their work to date. Everyone knows that Mildred’s arch enemy, Ethel Hallow, will win several prizes. She is odious but magically talented. All the girls want to win the coveted position of Head Girl for their last year at the academy. The


appointment is made by makes the Head


and her deputy. Does Mildred have a chance? Mildred has a trademark gift. She well-meaning but


hilarious


mistakes which end up working out well for her and her friends – though less well


for Ethel. In this escapade


she comes across a circus and talking animals. Murphy’s unique talent is to combine a typical boarding school yarn with illustrations that bring the story within the compass of very young or struggling readers. For many years now Murphy has provided excellent read aloud material for teachers, librarians and parents – and this latest book is well up to her distinguished mark. RB


Books for Keeps No.232 September 2018 23


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