BfK 5 – 8 Infant/Junior continued


in black and white while all other animals are in full colour, emphasises the sense of difference. Based on the European trickster


story ‘Stone Soup’ this version is set in Africa and is part of publisher Tiny Owl’s series One Story, Many Voices. This is a story with lots of contemporary resonance, challenging distrust of strangers and emphasising the importance of being welcoming. SMc


Dave and the Tooth Fairy HHHH


Verna Wilkins, ill. Carl Pearce, Studio Press, 978 1 78741 540 9, £6.99 pbk


This classic picture book was first published


in 1993 by Tamarind


Press and was greatly welcomed at that time for its diversity as it featured two BAME characters and a contemporary interpretation of the tooth fairy tradition. The story of Dave, who comes up with a resourceful plan to replace his missing tooth, and Afiya, a very modern Tooth Fairy who uses a computer and longs for a new, preferably day-time, job, will be just as appealing 25 years on. The book has been re-illustrated and updated for a new generation of readers. The illustrations, by Welsh illustrator Carl Pearce, reflect the style of an animated film with characters brightly illuminated against blocks of deep background colour. The story has a satisfying outcome for all characters and this reprint of an old favourite is still a title to be recommended and enjoyed all these years later. SR


The Bug Collector HHHH


Alex. G. Griffiths, Andersen Press, 28pp, 978 1 78344 768 8, £12.99, hbk


George loves Sundays. He shares with his grandad who always takes him to interesting


places. One particular


Sunday they visit a wildlife museum. Grandad disregards the dinosaurs and heads straight for the mini beast section. George is soon captivated by the incredible creatures and resolves to build his own bug collection. This doesn’t


prove easy and it takes


a while for George to perfect his technique. Once he does, George is on a roll and he fills his tree house with an amazing collection of bugs. Looking closely, George marvels at the colours and shapes of a captured butterfly, but young readers will spot that the butterfly is not looking at all happy. On his journey home George notices everything is much quieter than usual, and there are no bugs to catch. Grandad is very cross when he realises what George has done. He teaches George about bugs, all they do for us and why they should not be trapped in jars. Together they find a way to create a natural environment to encourage and enjoy minibeasts.


George is an appealing character


and his relationship with his grandad is very warm. The lively style of the text and the illustrations perfectly match


George’s Bug Collector is not


enthusiasm. The only a very


enjoyable story, it also incorporates information about mini beasts and their importance in the natural world. Sharing this book might inspire young naturalists to observe bugs in their natural environment and find out more about creating minibeast friendly habitats. SMc


Bear Out There HHHH


Jacob Grant, Bloomsbury, 978 1 5266 0741 6, £6-99, pbk


A bear and a spider: unlikely best friends. But it seems opposites attract, and whilst Bear would much prefer to stay indoors in his cosy armchair with a cup of tea, Spider loves the outdoors, the breeze, the sunshine. He has just made himself a kite, and is devastated when the wind whips it away from him. His big friend Bear says that he will help him find it, although he dislikes the outdoors, the smells, the bugs, the noises and especially the dark forest. Off they set together, Spider clinging to his big friend. When it begins to rain


Bear starts grumbling more


than ever, and it is only when he sees Spider’s downcast expression that he suggests they could maybe look just a little further. As the rain begins to ease, they both look up at the clouds… and spot the lost kite. A happy ending, Spider not only repairing his kite but making one for Bear too, decorating it with huge bear pawprints. A tale which shows us that friendship means being there for each other, no matter what. And that sometimes this demands stepping out of one’s comfort zone. There are lots of extra details added to the story by the author’s own illustrations. At the opening, Spider uses buttons to weight the kite’s tail, and readers see he also wears one as a hat! The expressions of the two characters tell just what they are feeling, especially when they are both desponden – in the woods, soaking wet


from the


rain, having failed in their quest, and Bear wanting so much to go home. How does it end? Only the pictures tell us, but a compromised harmony is restored. Maybe some kite flying/ making will follow from reading this quirky book! GB


I Really Want to Win HHHH


Simon Philip, ill. Lucia Gaggiotti, Templar books, 978 1 78741 411 2, £6.99, pbk


Being small and feisty and energetic with an ardent wish to win is just not enough for the little girl in this story. Sports Day arrives, and she is absolutely sure the win is hers, first


22 Books for Keeps No.238 September 2019


in the flat race, then the tug of war. Each time supreme efforts fail to win that coveted first prize. And each race seems to be won by the same rival competitor. Downhearted but not completely


defeated, she


He cannot resist picking the flower to take back as proof. (Not his finest hour in my opinion.) His box is there too, so with both


decides


sport is not for her and looks for another area in which she could beat all others. A Spelling Bee? defeated by ventriloquist; a ballet competition? Each first prize is still gained by the same person who beat her in the flat race and tug of war. Time to rethink? But when her chief adversary comes not first but way down the list in a painting competition,


at last they


become friends, and she is advised by the former winner, “You cannot always be ahead. Enjoy the things you love, instead. You do not HAVE to win.” The resolution of the tale is well handled, and the once coveted first prize comes when most unexpected. The two


main characters are


accompanied throughout by their pet dogs, who share the narrative only in the illustrations. The Champion has a refined grey poodle, who delights in her


mistress’ As he observes the every success,


whilst our girlie has a determined hound who tries so hard, but just can’t achieve a win for her… but is on hand to pass her tissues as she howls her frustration. Every page is full of details, adding greatly to this rhyming story. The illustrator really lets us know the pain felt by the non- winner, especially on the huge double spread when she shouts “I REALLY want


to WIN!” in enormous text.


Her dog can hardly bear it, his paws covering his eyes so he can’t see her pain. Children will enjoy the humour in the book, identifying with one of the characters or the other voiceless competitors…. or perhaps, one of the dogs? GB


Life on Mars HHHH


Jon Agee, Scallywag Press, 32pp, 978 1 9126 5007 1, £12.99 hbk


“Everybody thinks I’m crazy. Nobody believes there is life on Mars.’ But there’s a little astronaut who does and he’s determined to find it as he leaves his rocket, carrying nothing but a box of chocolate cupcakes intended as a gift. As he wanders the planet’s surface


searching for signs of life, he notes its cold and dusty dreariness and his optimism begins to wane. What he fails to notice however is


that all the while behind our narrator, following and closely observing him, is a very large pointy-eared Martian. After what seems like miles of rocks and dirt, so


traversing the


aptly depicted in shades of grey and brown tinged with pink, the explorer concludes


“Everybody was right.


There is no life on Mars.” He places his gift on the ground and starts to make his way back to his spaceship. But where is it? The little astronaut suddenly spies something amazing; evidence


after all, of life, in the


form of a single bright yellow flower. Hurrah!


– mission accomplished.


hands full the astronaut resumes his spaceship search with a spot of mountain climbing (actually the creature’s body) and at last, there it is. Once on board it’s time to celebrate by breaking open the beribboned box that’s come so far … It’s the mismatch between what


we see in Agee’s illustrations and the running commentary provided by the little protagonist that makes this such a satisfying read. Out of this world tragi-comedy done to perfection is what is served up here and I can almost hear the cries of ‘again!’ from listeners who will relish its splendid incongruity. JB


Free HHHH


Sam Usher, Templar Publishing, 32pp, 978 1 7874 1516 4, £6.99 pbk


birds around


the feeder through the window one morning, the boy narrator notices that one of their number is injured. He and his Grandad nurse him carefully until he seems ready to go back out into the garden. “He won’t want to be cooped up in here,” Grandad insists putting it outside; but the bird has other ideas.


Back it comes at breakfast time, lunchtime and teatime, and the boy grows increasingly attached to their visitor, urging Grandad to let the creature


stay. Grandad’s wisdom


prevails: he insists freedom is what it needs and showing the lad a picture of a large tree, tells him they must help the bird find a new home. With rucksacks packed off they go. After a long climb, they find the perfect tree and it’s absolutely teeming with Bird’s avian friends singing a welcome song and ready to share a fruity feast. A lovely warm-hearted story to add


to Sam Usher’s smashing series of Boy and Grandpa adventures that mix fantasy with everyday reality so beautifully, portraying the very special relationship


that exists


between


the two. I love the closely observed domestic details of Grandpa’s home: capacious bookshelves, over-stuffed fridge and cupboards stacked high with mugs, tins and jars as well as the outdoor fantasy scenes. JB


Small in the City HHHHH


Sydney Smith, Walker Books, 40pp, 978 1 4063 8840 4, £12.99


Warmly wrapped against the winter chills, a small child leaves the tram and begins walking. ‘I know what it’s like to be small in the city,’ says the narrator and goes on to talk of the noisy, bustling, at times scary environment he’s entered. As he continues walking we realise


that the child is addressing a special someone. Furthermore, rather than sounding scared, he offers advice on how best to navigate the landscape: ‘alleys can be good shortcuts’, steer


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