BfK Under 5s Pre - School/Nursery/Infant contd.


ever Helen Oxenbury’s watercolour illustrations are sheer delight. She takes readers right back to the seemingly timeless days of childhood evoking a bygone era when it felt safe to allow children to roam freely with nothing but their sense of adventure and their imaginations to accompany them. The combination of


picturebook eloquence of the first order and a treat to share at bedtime or indeed, any time. JB


Little Monkey HHHH


Marta Altés, Macmillan, 32pp, 978 1 4472 5900 8, £11.99


Frustrated by missed opportunities on account of her smallness, Little Monkey decides she won’t be left out


the two is


any longer; it’s time to prove herself. “I will climb to the top of the tallest tree. The jungle is NOT too big for me, you’ll see!” she announces as she sets out. What she doesn’t know as she navigates the dangerous river and difficult path, is that, despite noticing a whole lot of little things accomplishing amazing things, she isn’t alone on her journey. (There’s a touch of Rosie’s Walk here). Before


the bottom of the tallest tree in the jungle and eagerly begins her ascent: I suspect you’ll have listeners calling “Look behind you!” at this point. Paw by paw she climbs till finally, there she stands on the topmost fronds gazing down at the


her – everything. But why are the whole world long Monkey arrives at before Welcome HHHH


Barroux, Egmont , 32pp, 978 -1-4052-8053-2, £10.99 hbk


The polar bears are playing at home when the ice cracks and three bears set adrift on the big blue ocean. Their iceberg boat is slowly getting smaller and they’re in desperate need of some help but the animals on each island they reach show no compassion. They don’t want the bears to join them. An empty island appears in the nick of time, but now the monkeys are in trouble. Will the polar bears share their new home? A timely message of compassion underlines


Barroux’s beautifully illustrated story. The colours are bright and the characters cute. The gentle story of the polar bears’ troubles shows that sharing what you have is vital at times of great need and vulnerable people deserve our sympathy and help. An important lesson that continues to be necessary to adults and children alike, and a lovely story that everyone will enjoy. KC


The Journey HHHHH


Francesca Sanna, Flying Eye Books, 40pp, 978-1-9092-6399-4, £12.99 hbk


Told from a child’s viewpoint, we first meet a family used to sharing happy summers at the


their world’s a happy place. We then share


whole world seemed to plunge into increasing chaos and darkness at the outbreak of war. The father is killed and the rest of the family embark on a journey – their mother calls it a ‘great adventure’ – towards a ‘safe place’ where they can live free from constant fear and danger. Leaving under the cover of night,


the three travel for several days, gradually letting go their material possessions, to reach the border,


what happened when beach


together; the


the joyous ending of


other members of her troop waving so enthusiastically in the distance? Certainly Little Monkey has plenty to feel proud of and she knows she’s lucky,


amazing adventure. Rising star, Marta Altés visual


comic after


what she doesn’t say, heightening the dramatic effects and gigglesome delights revealed at every turn of the page. This is destined to become a storytime favourite I suspect. JB


What Will I Be? 978 1 911402 01 5


Choices, Choices… 978 1 911402 00 8


HHH


Dawne Allette, ill. Paul Cemmick, Firetree, 32pp, £6.99 pbk


These two books, the first aimed at girls and the second aimed at


5 – 8 Infant/Junior A Visit to City Farm


HHHH


Verna Wilkins illus Karin Littlewood, Firetree Books, 32pp, 978-1911402077, £6.99 pbk


The excitement of a trip to a city farm is described with particularly vivid insight in this joyful


picture


book, and no wonder: A Visit to City Farm was created as a special and probably


only to be stopped by fierce guards whom they eventually manage to elude. They then face a harrowing ferry journey during which the tales of dangerous monsters they tell one another gradually give way to stories of kindness, magic and the end of war. Once


borders to cross, by train this time; but now the sight of migrating birds flying free brings fresh hope and possibilities of starting a new story of their own in a new, safe land. Such is the potency of the telling that it’s impossible to read this book without having to blink back tears. Sanna’s striking, haunting stylised illustrations, in dark and sombre shades, of Grimm-like forests, fortified borders, sinister guards and anonymous traffickers, at once distances and intensifies the pathos and sadness of this tale of the so many refugees fleeing war-torn countries. The poetic, moving text, distilled


from the stories told to the author by refugees, is one that strikes a special chord with me having taught in London schools where asylum seekers and refugees enriched our lives as they shared their personal stories with us. Every child, and every adult read and discuss this:


should ashore there are more Primary School,


between the children of Year 5 at Chalkhill and the


unique collaboration Brent


author, illustrator, editor


and printer. A note at the back from headmistress Rose Ashton tells us that the children were ‘hands-on’ from the idea to the finished product and there is definitely a strong sense of the community of young minds behind the story. Some individuals are picked out – Salma, who trails behind on the walk to the station, and TJ who is alarmed when the horses suddenly gallop towards the fence for feeding time – but generally it’s their group reactions that are discussed and recorded. Rainbow Class love meeting the llamas and the alpacas for example, with their beautiful soft coats, and they’re all careful to creep quietly past the enormous pig in his sty. In this scene, Mister Pig is an imposing presence in the foreground but our eye is still drawn towards the row of brightly coloured welly boots across the top of the page, all we see


all she’s just had an uses


artistry to show us


boys, are unusual in that they star quite young children who are already considering what kind of jobs they might do when they grow up.


rhyme that is comic and fun, they think up lots of possibilities, some of which seem more likely others!


style feature such details as a fish sticking its tongue out at the boy who is picturing himself under the sea as a marine biologist, or the girl as a doctor peering at an x-ray of someone who has swallowed a key! While the theme is of occupations from the high-powered to the basic, the aspect is very much one of humour.


boy and girl consider jobs that are not sex specific. Both children are black, and as their features are emphasised as often happens in cartoon style, some might find this aspect of the illustrations a trifle non politically correct. ES


Both The illustrations in cartoon than In


of the children. The story is full of details that primary school children will love and, no matter where they live, they will identify completely with the children of Rainbow Class as they enjoy their special day out. Firetree Books is Verna Wilkins’s


new venture, and this dynamic new company aims to present a range of books with engaging stories that celebrate


our interconnected culturally-diverse world, This Bear, That Bear putting


and all


children ‘in the picture’. A Visit to City Farm does that beautifully. AR


HHHH


Sian Wheatcroft, Templar, 32pp, 978-1-7837-0628-0, £6-99 pbk


A Bear Parade! What fun, as Dad takes young bear by the paw and they set off The


and charcoaled trees are a perfect foil for the multitudinous collaged bears wearing knitted, squiggled, or striped jumpers. Every bear has a characterful face drawn very simply with four lines that children will surely want


“Tall bear, small bear, loves-to-kick-a- ball bear; cheeky bear, sneaky bear, fabulously geeky bear.” The rhyming text rockets through the book, every spread being packed with bears of all


There’s a fancy dress competition, and lots of expectation as Dad and his bear son march towards


GRANDE FINALE! Fireworks delight all assembled bears, as we spot one or two yawns, the night sky signalling the parade is finally over. Families trundle homeward, “Light bear, night bear, tucked-up-tight bear.”


surely has the power to open hearts and minds to the ongoing worldwide refugee crisis. JB


it


A great read to enjoy with a sleepy youngster at bedtime. GB.


Fast asleep! the descriptions and demeanours. to recreate for themselves. paint washed


to watch the parade. backgrounds


22 Books for Keeps No.222 January 2017


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