reviews 5 – 8 Infant/Junior continued


to follow this memorable trio as they tackle


new problems using their


scientific and technical know-how. In this first Questioneer story Rosie


Revere had been unsuccessfully trying to solve her zoo keeper uncle’s snake problem using copious amounts of ketchup when another


relative in


need of her engineering help arrives. Aunt Rose takes her to meet a group of (presumably very?) elderly ladies who had been the Blue River Riveters, working on air plane assembly lines during the Second World War. One of them, June, has broken her wrists and is in plaster. Rosie’s task is to create an invention to enable June to take part in a forthcoming art competition. Together with friends Iggy and Ada and unexpected help from mysterious neighbour Mrs Lu, Rosie invents the Paintapalooza, which after a few false starts proves a successful invention. With the theme of perseverance, helping others, and of


the home this story also


awareness of the role of women in war work and introduces the original Rosie the Riveter. Additional pages encourage young readers to find out about the life stories older people in their communities may be able to tell. An engaging story with humour and perfectly matched illustrations and layout including pages from Ada’s notebook showing her ideas, design notes and false starts. There is also information (and a poem) about valves exploring the physics behind the imaginary Paintapalooza. SMc


and velvety, with the constellations startlingly picked


out in animal


silhouettes, the boy sleeping below. Woken by a bright ray of sunshine, he finds he is surrounded by a number of curious but friendly creatures. Quick, turn another page and one is abruptly met by large, facial close-ups of each of these creatures; owl and wart-hog, badger and mouse, squirrel and hare, and even the little boy himself, each with wide, round, staring eyes.


The


next page is filled by an enormous brown bear, seeming to carry on a conversation with the boy. Together the


animals and the boy happily


nature raises


drink, eat, dance and play, and create some amazing cave paintings. The gentle touches of humour will not go unnoticed; the two tiny mice, alert and high up on the bear’s back, the bear sporting the boy’s cap as they cave paint. Meanwhile, the father is calling, calling for his son, shouting into the white wilderness. Wanting his father, Bear escorts the boy home, the reunion is joyous. The final page turns the seasons as man and boy sit in a grassy meadow in sunshine, along with all their new friends; racoon, fox, rabbit, mouse and big brown bear. What a stunning, atmospheric book to enjoy with a child on a cold winter’s night. We are reminded of the enormous value of the wordless picture book in this not to be missed book. A child’s imagination will be set alight by the clarity and beauty of the magical pictures, whilst older readers will marvel at the atmosphere created by the text with these rich illustrations. GB


Two Kings HHHH


Emma Lewis, Tate Publishing, 32pp, 9781849 6596 1, £11.99 hbk8pp, 9781788541671, £10.99 hbk


Inspired by the colours and imagery of the Bayeux tapestry, Emma Lewis has created an anti-war parable for all ages. It begins with the death of a king and the ensuing dispute between an earl and a duke over his erstwhile kingdom.


Almost Once Upon a Snowstorm HHHHH


Richard Johnson, Faber & Faber, 32pp, 978 0 571 33929 7 £6.99 pbk


picture


This is a breathtakingly beautiful book


talented illustrator. One turns the pages


slowly, almost reverentially,


realising the absence of words whilst being swept along, always alert to the story line, by the magical illustrations. A father and son explore the wintery scene outside, with the wind blowing through


the forest, the dancing


snowflakes in the shapes of hares, foxes,


reindeer. The two explorers


become separated, and the boy, cold and lost, seeks night shelter in a cave. The next page-turn reveals a sky, black


by an exceptionally inevitably the


subjects of the two lands separated by a stretch of water, are, despite their reluctance and a sign up above, drawn into a full-scale war. The fierce battle between the two armies results in heavy losses on both sides and the death of both earl and duke, leaving the remaining people bewildered at the needless destruction. Invaded and invaders decide to work


together to rebuild the country and slowly, little by little, with input from everyone, a new nation is forged: a new nation that will always remember the pointlessness of war and the vital importance of a lasting peace. The tale of power hungry leaders


and their selfish vanity unfolds in linear


fashion Emma incongruous images – photos


Tapestry. However from the very first spread,


of


as in the Bayeux Lewis introduces


modern day crowds watching the funeral procession, a group of WW1 cavalry men lining up as part


of


the invasion preparations and the invasion fleet itself including three- masted sailing ships, two and three funnel


steam ships and modern


speed boats, thus transforming the story from a simple history lesson into a tale for all times. JB


The Wobbly Waitress HHHH


Lisa Stickley, Tate Publishing, 32pp, 978 1 8497 6592 3, £11.99 hbk


No, it isn’t Mrs Wobble from the Happy Families series making a comeback; this waitress is a giraffe named Mabel, an employee at the zoo café where, rather surprisingly, her fellow workers are all animals, not so most of the customers however. Lisa Stickley’s story – told from the


viewpoint of child narrator Ada who is eating at the café - focuses on one particular Tuesday when Mabel has a severe attack of the hiccups. The result is, that try as she might, this heretofore, excellent member of staff wobbles left and right with disastrous consequences. Bolognaise splatters over a gentleman’s newly cleaned shoes; ice-cream sundae ends up smothering an elegant lady’s hair and macaroni cascades all over the floor. Her customers and fellow workers


Franklin and Luna Go to the Moon


HHHH


Jen Campbell, ill. Katie Harnett, Thames & Hudson, 32pp, 978 500651469, £11.99 hbk


This is the second story to feature the delightful duo, Franklin the story loving dragon and his best friend Luna. Fuelled by their avid passion for reading the two have a thirst for adventure and now with Franklin having reached the ripe old age of six hundred and five, Luna decides it’s time to go on an adventure in search of her friend’s long lost family. During the course of their travels


they encounter all kinds of weird and wonderful characters including spaghetti-eating loving vampires,


playing


yetis, Shakespeare volleyball


elves and roller skate wearing, disco dancing unicorns; but no dragons. Footsore and weary they’re no nearer finding that elusive dragon family. But then, Neil Armstrong – love that name – Luna’s pet


tortoise notices


something way up in the sky above. In the time it takes to tickle Franklin’s nostrils and cause him to sneeze, the three of them are zooming off into space, lunar bound. What they discover upon landing


appears at first to be a distinct lack of dragons, but then footprints


in


the sand and a familiar sound lead the three adventurers to a hoard of silvery dragons. Joy of joys, it’s Franklin’s


family at last and even


more wonderful perhaps is the fact that they too are lovers of stories. Despite his happiness at discovering his roots, this lunar landscape is no longer home to Franklin, so the reunion party must end with promises of things to come … With its magical text and dreamily delicious illustrations (a mix of full page, double spread and vignette), this discovering your origins book is another triumph for the Campbell/ Harnett


duo. number three. JB


are sympathetic but poor Mabel is distraught nonetheless. Something must be done to effect a


cure. Various possibilities are considered until a realistic plan is agreed upon: will it have the desired outcome? Told in rhyme,


Lisa Stickley’s


story bounces along nicely with the added fun of the anticipatory repeat refrain: ‘She wobbled to the left … she wobbled to the right … She tried to keep steady with all of her might, BUT …’ while the author has fun portraying the food fiascos in her action-packed mixed media


illustrations Jingle Spells HHH


James Brown, Simon and Schuster, 29pp, 9781471170584, £6.99 pbk


Jingle Spells is about a little witch surrounded by other little witches who absolutely love Halloween. Everything they do and surround themselves with has a Halloween theme BUT Trixie (the little witch) loves Christmas instead. She yearns to try and help her


friends understand why she loves Christmas so decides


to write to


Santa himself for help. She is very disappointed when she receives a letter back saying she is still on the naughty list along with all her other witch friends. She decides the only thing she can do is go and see Santa himself so she sets off on her broomstick along with her trusty cat. However, when she gets there there is a problem - all Santa’s elves are sick. Will Christmas go ahead? The book has a very Christmassy


feel to it with lots of sweet illustrations. Lots


of the pages have full page Bring on adventure


pictures which gives a very colourful feel. The language is a little bit cheeky – there’s a mention of snot at one point-which will no doubt appeal! It’s a good little story for Christmas probably more than Halloween itself – the front cover even has an extra bit of glittery on for that Christmassy feel. SG


Books for Keeps No.233 November 2018 25 that will


surely bring on some giggles from young listeners. JB


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