BfK 5 – 8 Infant/Junior continued


the text is in speech bubbles, and the illustrations are full of humour. There’s so much to pore over and talk about that it will be a joy to share. It will help teachers, anyone


librarians, and who supports children’s


reading development to have a good discussion about reading. LT.


Rabbit & Bear The Pest in the Nest


HHHHH


Julian Gough, illus Jim Field, Hodder Children’s Books, 978-1- 4449-3426-7, £9.99 hbk.


Rabbit wakes up to bright light and noise. Sunshine fills the den and Bear is snoring loudly. He makes his way to his own burrow, but excitement at the signs of Spring soon gives way to annoyance. His burrow is a mess, Tortoise is too chatty – and then, there’s the most terrible


banging


coming from the tree. Exasperated – and very angry – Rabbit summons trusty


Bear Will Bear to stop please tell the that


racket. noisy


Woodpecker to shut up? Of course, Bear resolves the matter – but not in the way that Rabbit was expecting. Warmth, tenderness and humour


fill every page of this enchanting story. Simply written and utterly engaging, it effortlessly exemplifies the way to wisdom and wellbeing. Slowly and deliberately, Bear shows Rabbit how to approach the world – not from a selfish perspective in which he is at the centre, but as one among many creatures in a breathtakingly beautiful


and of the


The illustrations are expressive, establishing the moods


forest


fonts. The text, however, is always clear and uncluttered - a welcome design. It would be great to read aloud and share. Edgar is a cat of character, the rat a proper comedy villain who gets his comeuppance. And there is a neat use of the word ‘bad’ that references all its meanings, including the most contemporary. A delicious treat. FH


Charlie and Mouse HHH


Laurel Snyder, ill. Emily Hughes, Chronicle Books, 40pp, 978-1-4521-3153-5 £9.98 hbk


Charlie and Mouse are two brothers who have four adventures


different little divided into 4 small


chapters in this boisterous picture book. There is gentle humour in each chapter where you get a peek inside this American family particularly at the brothers’ relationship. They get up to kind of ‘normal stuff’ which is great. They don’t have super powers, don’t hate each other they just rub along together and this is a snapshot of their brotherhood. The Lump story will resonate with


any family where there are early risers versus trying to catch up sleep parents. The Party has a lovely repeat in it which will appeal to readers-there’s also opportunities for some cultural discussions


as there are words


harmonious world. personalities and


creatures


through facial gestures and posture. Both entertaining and philosophical, there’s also a lot to discuss in this gem of a book. AF


Edgar and the Sausage Inspector


Jan Fearnley, Nosy Crow,


8576-3822-9, £11.99 hbk Edgar


treats.


HHHH 978-0-


loves his sister, Edith and


tries to make her happy every day. This means searching out the most delicious


But who is this


Inspector? He has a hat and a badge; he must be important - so when he confiscates the food, Edgar can do nothing. Or can he? A picture book by Jan Fearnley


is always welcome since it will be full of humour balanced by a neat sense of jeopardy. Edgar and the Sausage Inspector is no exception. The story follows a traditional pattern of repeated but escalating situations, ensuring the attention of the young reader. Fearnley’s illustrations


are


always noted for her strong lively lines and colourful palette. Here, they make full use of each spread, provide all the clues which are further emphasised by a clever use of vocabulary and


more usual in America than the UK so this would definitely raise some discussions. The Rocks chapter ends with lots of humour and, again, has some repeating ideas so the book would be great for beginner readers because it has a really supportive structure. The size of the book makes it appealing in terms of independent reading too.


fostering I’ve not


come across many picture books in chapter form so it’s great to see. Seeing the brothers get up to things, their underlying fondness for each other and a big dose of cheekiness makes for an entertaining read. SG


The Treasure of Pirate Frank HHHHH


Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham, illus Jez Tuya, Nosy Crow, 978-0-8576-3890-8, £6-99 pbk


This book celebrates the wonderfully creative talent of Mal Peet and his wife Elspeth Graham in partnership, it being one of the last stories they produced


before Mal’s death in


2015. The story, inspired by the tale, The House that Jack Built, has a rhyme that begs to be read aloud, one that children will join in readily. The illustrations leap from every spread with rumbustious energy, drawing in readers. A touch of gold on the cover adds to the initial thrill of opening this book, whilst there is a FREE Stories Aloud smartphone audio book facility tucked on the inside front cover by a scan of the QR code.


A


small boy, his map and his dog set off on aboard ship across the bright


22 Books for Keeps No.224 May 2017


blue sea. ‘This is the boy who wants to find the treasure of Pirate Frank. This is the map that shows the way to the treasure of Pirate Frank.’ So begins the adventure, as they cross snowy mountain tops, meet crowds of monkeys in the forests, encounter a swamp full of singing bullfrogs, a volcano that spits out fire, and climb steps that go higher and higher. All these sites are on the map that shows the way to the treasure of Pirate Frank. The accumulating text rings out in gripping rhythm as boy and dog traverse the various haunts, the pictures adding much to the text. Excitement mounts as the boy and faithful dog approach the tree that marks the spot… The treasure chest, at long last! But oh dear, standing upon it is Pirate Frank, and upon the chest reads a sign: ‘This treasure belongs to pirate frank. Hands off!’ Most unexpectedly, Pirate Frank is a fearsome looking girl! ‘Quick! Run! Down the steps going lower, not higher…’ And so boy and dog hastily retrace


their journey back home,


as in a renowned and much loved bear hunt picture book, all the way chased by the fiery Pirate Jack. This book should become a great classic, needing to be read aloud,


with


friends, with families, in classrooms, on high days and holidays, in libraries, in cafes, and high adventurous places all around the world. Let it fly! GB


The Street Beneath My Feet HHHH


Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer, Words & Pictures, 978-1-7849-3731-7, £14.99 hbk


Have you ever wondered what is below the concrete of the pavement? Or watched the water rushing down the gutter into the drains? Where does it go? There is a whole world underneath the surface of our world and Guillain and Zommer have made it


business to effect an introduction. Since the journey is digging down,


their book has been designed with this in mind; it gradually unfolds as the reader travels through different layers, going ever deeper until the central core is reached. Then the traveller


up to the surface. This allows the authors to


begins a journey back pace


the Here are information


that goes with each layer. The text is packaged neatly and delivered in small bites set against the continually changing groundscape. no photographs The illustrator underground


draws us into this world


with small creatures, technology,


bones, minerals – and finally lava. The information is concise, direct and friendly in tone, designed to appeal to its young audience many of whom will be able to access it for themselves. From its attractive cover inviting the reader to open the book to the final dramatic cut-away earth, this is a welcome addition to the way information is being offered to children whether in school or at home. FH


with captions. populated


Pigeon P.I. HHHH


Meg McLaren, Andersen Press, 9781783444830, £12.99 hbk


Murray Pigeon has retired . He is no longer investigating crimes; or that’s what he says. Then the Kid (aka Vee) in her jaunty black beret turns up with a tale of birdnapping. Even this does not tempt Pigeon P.I. But when she disappears, it is time to take action. This is not a picture book for the youngest, perhaps – though hard- bitten


Mums and Dads


should


appreciate it as a bedtime read. McLaren references the mean streets of the Chandler novels in her laconic text which mixes speech bubbles, details within the illustrations and the storyline told by Pigeon, himself. Her attractive soft-toned illustrations are inseparable from the storytelling and require the reader to explore each spread. And there is plenty to explore from the beginning to the final end papers. Jokes abound – the title itself will raise a smile - and young readers will quickly appreciate the partnership between Pigeon and the Kid. Not one to miss. FH


Town is by the Sea HHHHH their


Joanne Schwartz, ill. Sydney Smith, Walker Books, 48pp, 978-1-4063-773- 5, £11.99 hbk


This is one of those slow burn


picture books, the impact of which lingers long after its covers have been closed. It takes readers to the Canadian province of Novia Scotia, to the coalmining days of Cape Breton when many men spent their days toiling in mines beneath the sea. Our young narrator is a boy, the son


of a miner, and as the book opens his father is leaving his grassy hilltop home for work. The lad wakes and begins to reveal the details of his day’s activities, and the routine life of his father. He uses the repeated ‘it goes like this …’ phrase, which imbues the whole narrative with a timelessness. The boy’s world is expansive, outdoors - the grassy


playground,


the town shops, the graveyard where his grandfather is buried, the wide seascape. That of his father is dark and confined. ‘And deep down under that sea, my father is digging for coal.’ This repeat refrain provides a stark contrast between the


two worlds and adds a subtle air of poignancy


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32