reviews Under 5s Pre – School/Nursery/Infant continued


changing. Maybe the campout should be abandoned for another day? Needless to say, Mini Rabbit isn’t


keen on that idea. When he makes a plan, he’s going to see it through, and nothing the Great Outdoors can throw at him will dampenhis spirits - until it’s dark and wet and he’s all alone, of course, when flexibility may be required. Illustrate with bright, bold artwork, this book has a stylized,


slightly


abstract quality that offers children (and their adults) an enjoyable visual adventure. The well-developed storyline includes features borrowed from traditional tales (three tasks, helpful encounters along the path…) which anchor the narrative and give it a sense of a timeless solidity. Mini’s impatience


and single-


minded devotion to one idea will be recognised and enjoyed by anyone who’s had dealings with toddlers, and his ability to set off alone into the big wide world and get things done will bring a delicious frisson of vicarious joy for Under 5’s who dream of doing exactly that. CFH


Nature’s Toy Box HHHH


Wenda Shurety, ill. Harriet Hobday, Storyhouse 32pp, 978-1-9162818-0-6, £6.99 pbk


‘Mum pressed the button and the screen went black…’ When Mum turns off the TV, Tilly


can’t think what to do. Her toybox doesn’t look inviting, but there’s a little bird singing in the garden, so Tilly goes outside to investigate. The bird isn’t behind the greenhouse, or inside the flowerpots. Could it be playing hide and seek? Searching under a bush, Tilly


discovers a stick that looks very like a magic wand, and as her imagination takes over, we see the garden through new eyes. A tiny wildlife park appears to contain snakes, armadillos and even a rhinoceros, and all sorts of fun


activities suggest themselves:


wrapping leaves around found objects to give as presents, or using them to make a twirly skirt. When Mum tells her to come indoors, Tilly begs to be allowed to stay outside. That bird still hasn’t been found, and surely there’s time for one more game of hide and seek? Entertaining yourself


with few


resources may be an old-fashioned pleasure, but it’s a satisfying and rewarding skill, and one that Wenda Shurety explores in an inviting way. Children are brought on board with a clear narrative, and imaginative forays are framed in a way that cues and


reassures readers with less


experience of ‘how books work’ - including family members who may be sharing picturebooks at home. ‘Abracadabra! Instantly the wand became a bird-spotting telescope…’ Harriet


landscapes will please imaginative


art-lovers as well as readers who prefer their picturebooks to capture the flavour of ‘real life’. Hobday’s saturated


blue-green palette


highlighted with warm oranges, pinks and yellows is inviting, and allows her to create a world suffused with evening sun and possibilities. The final spread of the garden expanding to


become that a jungly paradise is


particularly enjoyable. Nature’s Toy Box is a quiet gem will appeal to children who


already love imaginative garden play, but those who are new to its delights will be charmed by this book, too. CFH


LOUD! HHHHH


Rose Robbins, Scallywag Press, 32pp, 978 1 912650 56 9, £12.99, hbk


Abigail is not having a good day at school. She doesn’t want to join in with writing, she feels restless and wants to scribble or fiddle with other children’s hair. After being rude to the teacher she is sent to the calming down room in disgrace. The next lesson is music. Abigail arrives late to find everyone has already chosen instruments and seems really good at playing them. Abigail can’t cope and starts screaming, very loudly. Expecting to be sent away in disgrace again Abigail is surprised when her teacher reacts positively and helps her find a rewarding role within the music class. With this everything changes for Abigail, she finds a focus for her energy, success, a purpose for


writing and friendships too.


The feelings of a child presenting challenging behaviour are sensitively explored in this simple story about the frustration of not fitting in or being understood. Towards the end of the story Abigail sets out her feelings plainly in the song she writes - she just wants to be herself and above all to be understood. The impact a sympathetic teacher can have by intervening at just


and in the right way is celebrated. Showing the music teacher


the right time in a


wheelchair is a thoughtful touch.The anthropomorphic illustrations show Abigail and her classmates as a set of young animals and their expressions, especially those of the main character, Abigail, would be easy for


young


children to read as she switches from boredom, mischief, misery, worry to finally pride and happiness. Another inclusive picturebook from the creator of Talking is not my Thing. SMc


Best Test HHHH


Pippa Goodhart, ill. Anna Doherty, Tiny Owl, 32pp, 978 1 9103 2874 3, £7.99 pbk


Bird’s discovery of a strawberry sets in motion


succulent an


exploration of what it means to be best. So delirious does said strawberry appear that other creatures too would like to have a share, the first being Frog who is quick to challenge Bird’s “Because I’m the best” claim to the entire thing. Bird much be bigger than Frog but when it comes to pulling funny faces, Frog wins unequivocally. Along comes little Shrew also claiming to be special and suggesting a test to help decide which of them really is BEST. The


competitors negotiate, a


course is drawn out, Shrew offers to act as referee, the animals line up till Shrew shouts “Go!” and off they set. Unbeknown to them all there’s a small mollusc watching from the side. During the race something entirely


unforeseen occurs: the participants start helping one another and the race ends with a tie and Shrew’s ‘I declare you to ALL be the best!’ And the strawberry? Rat suggests sharing it but there’s a surprise in store in the form of Snail munching its way through the prize and there’s no question that the race criteria have been fulfilled. However Snail has something crucial to contribute to the ‘best’ debate. With its vibrantly coloured, textured illustrations


and surprise ending


this is smashing demonstration collaboration and teamwork, and of the fact that everyone has something special to contribute to the world.. ??


The Boys HHHHH


Lauren Ace, ill. Jenny Lovlie, Little Tiger 40pp, 978-1-83891-159-1, £11.99 hbk


From their earliest days playing together on the beach to adulthood, with marriages and children of their own, Rey, Nattie, Bobby and Tam are a team, and this warm-hearted and inclusive picturebook tells the story of their friendship. Celebrating differences in an


understated and effective way, this book delivers important messages that will resonate with readers of all ages. Children who are curious about ‘what comes next’ will enjoy unpacking the life journeys in this book, while those who are focused on their own little corners of the world will be given a gentle nudge towards a broader picture. The storyline is uncomplicated


Hobday’s painterly


– the boys grow up, which brings changes that must be addressed and resolved – but a host of events are illustrated along the way, providing snapshots of other stories waiting to be told, and we see the boys valuing


5 – 8 Infant/Junior and nurturing their friendship in


ways young readers will relate to and understand. Each boy has different talents and


interests, but their enjoyment of each other’s company takes centre stage. Text and illustrations work together to show them supporting one another and learning to express their feelings. Difficulties in achieving the ‘ideal friendship’ are recognised, and realistic scenarios demonstrate how and why challenges occur and are resolved. The text specifically refers to ‘building a friendship’, and we’re shown the effort and commitment this takes, as well as the enjoyable outcomes. As the boys grow, they begin to compete with each other, and the need to explore other friendships in their


teenage years


is acknowledged as a natural part of growing up. Towards the end, the text can be read as a realistic and sensible


guide to creating better


relationships, and it’s very welcome to find it in the context of young men developing these vital skills. ‘The boys knew they had to be


able to talk about their feelings, but it wasn’t easy. Just as they had when they were small, the friends worked together to make things better. They came to realise that no boy is an island, and the bravest way to face problems is to talk and to listen. They learned to be patient and kind with one another again, making their friendship stronger than ever.’ The Boys is a companion volume


to the award-winning The Girls, and follows the same enjoyable format. It’s worth noting, though, that instead of the break-up of an adult relationship as featured in The Girls, the ‘weight of sadness’ being addressed at the end of The Boys concerns the death of Bobby’s dog, which may be more a more accessible concept for younger audiences. Like The Girls, this is a book that


will be given by adults to their friends, and there’s much here for tweens and teens to enjoy and benefit from, too. But it does feel comfortably aimed at younger audiences, and families with preschool and primary-age children will feel at home sharing it. ??


The Story Thief HHHH


Graham Carter, Andersen Press, 40pp, 9781783448920, £12.99 hbk


Olive is shy. Her adventures happen in story books where she can be the hero. One day returning from the library her book drops into the sea, waking a creature asleep there. Suddenly books and their stories are disappearing. It is up to Olive to find her inner courage to discover what is going on – and even more important, to find a solution. The theft of stories is a familiar and here


trope, it is handled with a refreshing confidence and


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