.jpg)
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |
Picturebook Reviews
A Buffalo Named Brave
Dr Linda Papadopoulos, illus. Carmen Saldana, pub. Farshore
We all have something that we fear, whether it is a noise, a creature or elements in the natural world. In this story a young buffalo is surrounded by loving family and friends and feels safe, except for when there is a loud and wild storm. He tries to run away, but the storm always catches up with him, so eventually he goes to the Elder buffalo and asks for his advice.
The Elder Buffalo advises facing the storm head-on and it will then pass over more quickly. However the young buffalo is worried he will not be brave enough and talks to his friends, all of whom confide that they too have their own individual fears. Talking about these concerns helps the young animals to come to terms with them.
The author of this book is a well-known psychologist, who has appeared on television and radio. She works with children to help them face their fears and build emotional resilience. Her feeling is that children need to understand their fears, not try to ignore them. With this book, she is able to show that idea in a very sympathetic and emotional way. The illustrations portray the African savanna and the contrast between its dry, sunny weather and the tempestuous storms it experiences so that the audience can really appreciate the strength and horror of the bad weather. An excellent addition to an empathy collection.
Margaret Pemberton
All That Glimmers
Laura Baker, illus. Ramona Kaulitzki, pub. Little, Brown & Company
All That Glimmers is a celebratory picturebook which deserves a place in every classroom, library, and home. It’s a celebration “of the small moments that spark joy, inspire awe, and bring peace.” In other words, a glimmer. These glimmers are everywhere, you just need to look for them but once you have found them your heart will soar, your mind will clear, you’ll feel brighter and lighter and what’s more the results of finding a glimmer are contagious. This gorgeous book reminds me of similar titles that encourage the reader to be mindful of their surroundings, to find the wonder in nature and other people, and to nurture connections to the wider world around them. Picturebooks such as Anna Ross and Debi Gliori’s This is Happy and The Little Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and for older readers Josie George’s Letters from Wonderland are three other titles that should be ubiquitous in their presence and are equally notable for their mediative, celebratory exuberance.
Baker’s text is lyrical, melodic and gentle with some lovely lines such as “you stop with a hop, and you splash without care, and soon all your worries float into the air.” Different scenarios are described such as being nervous; nothing going your way; feeling angry or slightly offbeat and how noticing a glimmer – a butterfly passing by; somebody’s smile; the smell of grass; a rainbow or an ice cream all make the world seem brighter. The positive words on each page, including ‘hope,’ ‘complete,’ ‘calm,’ and ‘joy’ are written in a bolder, larger, coloured font emphasizing the affirmatory nature of the book. Baker also recognises how a busy, lively scene can be too much for some and encourages others to be considerate too. Kaulitzki’s illustrations are beautiful, she has used colour in such a clever way. They’re initially all in a melancholic blueish-grey as the children depicted feel lonely, angry and so on, but as they notice the glimmers and spread the cheer they generate, colour, in all its glory, creeps in and takes over so some pages are a mixture of the muted tones and bright hues, others are full technicolour.
The book ends on an instructive and positive note, encouraging the reader to “keep your mind open, your heart ready for shimmers, and you might just find peace and a full life that glimmers.” This is a book that should be read by all, its optimism and cheerfulness shine. Its focus on the individual, the community and looking for the ‘little things’ to find comfort and hope makes it a very important and valuable tool for anybody’s life.
Natalie McChrystal Plimmer
The Art of How Dogs Sleep
Alison Kim, pub. Little, Brown & Company
How does a dog sleep? You probably don’t imagine that this is a tricky question to answer but for anyone who has ever had a dog in their home it is less a trick question and more a mystery or even surprise!
What Alison Kim’s truly delightful picturebook shows us, is that there is, quite simply, no one way a dog sleeps and what is more there is no one way that they get there. There are many, they are varied and they are all captured with exquisite detail in words and pictures right here. The pictures themselves are expressive, they give the impression of being watercolour, with their soft edges, encouraging the reader to reach out and touch. They are gentle, capturing the steps a dog will follow in the attempt to get just the right sleeping position. Then there is the step by step process that we follow with them, there is nothing simple here and again it is the illustration which complements this perfectly, the expressions on each dog being priceless.
I guarantee, dog owner or not, you will fall in love with this adorable picturebook, you and your young readers will giggle through it all and you too might find yourself ready to find the best position to curl up in so you too can have that little nap!
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Ban Ban’s Bakery
Elena Hiroko Magee, pub. Do Re Mi
What a beautiful book, and that is just my thought after picking it up to look at the cover and reading the blurb, two things I always do no matter what the book. When I picked this one up I wanted to pour over the detail in the stunning cover image and then realised that it offered the person holding it an additional experience, it is tactile, with raised elements bringing it even more to life before the reader has even opened it to take a peek inside, at the beautiful bakery and to meet Ban Ban.
Ban Ban is a bunny with big dreams. She wants, one day, to open her own bakery which she will fill with all the delicious and incredibly yummy treats she bakes with her grandmother. She’s fortunate enough to be able to start making her dream come true and soon it’s almost opening time. Ban Ban can’t wait, the customers are all waiting too but then there’s an odd smell and a lot of smoke… Oh dear! Something is burning in the oven, that can’t be good.
Ban Ban is not having the happy, fun opening she had dreamed of, rather she now has impatient customers waiting for their turn to be served. Thankfully there is help on the way and soon everyone is doing what they can to help Ban Ban get her bakery back on track which is fortunate as a very special guest is arriving soon. Absolutely charming, this book is filled with warmth, love and lots of very yummy goodies. It’s also very cute and gives young readers (and their grown-ups) a chance to share an uplifting story about the power of friendship and the importance of community, of being there for one another. For would-be bakers there is even a recipe included!
Colin Paterson
Bart is Different
Barroux, pub. Otter-Barry Books
A stunning, beautiful and powerful picture book by the incomparable Barroux.
Bart is a spiderling. But he’s nothing like the other spiderlings in his family, and he’s not like the other minibeasts in his class. Bart cannot sit still. He runs and he jumps constantly. He can’t do what’s expected of him. He keeps getting in trouble with the teacher. His classmates make fun of him and he’s lonely. Then one day, the wind sends a message. ‘Have confidence Bart. Be yourself! Be different.’ He lets himself go. He dances. He leaps and twirls and lets his inner artist free. Magic happens. Using his silk thread, with which he’s gradually been drawing ever more elaborate and more beguiling web pictures, Bart creates a masterpiece. Everyone is in silent awe. Then the teacher claps. There is a storm of applause. Bart is happy. ‘A happiness that will stay with Bart all through his life as a great artist.’
Children need to know that being different from everyone else is alright, and that their differences can make them special. It is, thankfully, a message in many picture books. What makes this one truly stand out is its quite glorious illustrations. Bart looks like other spiderlings, but his red thread tells another, compelling story. Bart’s webs are artforms. Every double page spread in the book has stunning soft focus watercolour pictures. The sharp, increasingly sophisticated magenta lines of Bart’s webs are a fabulous contrast. They weave the tale. Highly recommended. This will appeal to a wide age range (and will be a treat for all the adults lucky enough to share it.)
Anne Harding
The Blue Tomato
Amber Aü, pub. Little Tiger
When Blu moves to a new Farm Shop, he discovers that he is not the same as the other tomatoes. So, he hatches a plan to turn from blue to red like everyone else.
This charming debut picture book by Amber Aü champions difference in an accessible way. Young readers will be rooting for Blu during his creative endeavours to change colour – a ladybug juice bar, a tin of red spider paint, followed by his moments of self-doubt and introspection as he journeys towards self-acceptance. It’s only when Blu discovers a group of friends all having fun who don’t look alike, that he finally realises that it’s cool to be blue.
This is a beautiful book. I loved the tactile pages and muted pallet, and Amber Aü has used space, dialogue, typography and colour to great effect. Some of my favourite spreads are when Blu is alone with his thoughts such as his journey down the river on a leaf towards self-acceptance as the seasons change. Or when Blu looks at his reflection and ponders what else he can do to change..
Children will love meeting the different vegetable and fruit characters and pouring over the illustrations. On the final page, Blu reveals a little of his own unique personality and this feels like the perfect ending to a story about identity. A great book to share in a classroom or home setting with lots of points for discussion.
Mariesa Dulak
The Dangerous Pet Lover’s Guide to Sea Monsters
Lindsay Hirst illus. Alice McKinley, pub. Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Before you even consider starting this story I ask that you check the details on the end pages, these are important, the tips about everything you will need to make sure you can be the owner of a dangerous pet. These items include and are not limited to… a first aid kit, a manual, a basket of snacks and a preparedness for cuddles!
Ready? The Sea Monster, I am warning you now, is probably the most dangerous pet you can choose so I am assuming you are very brave! The Sea Monster is known for being moody and menacing but with this manual in hand you can learn how to encourage them to have fish ‘n’ chips for their lunch, instead of you. Phew! The first step is to locate some sea monsters, for this you will need to board your submarine and go under the sea to take look. After finding them you can choose the one who suits you best, just remember you need to make sure you have enough space for them to make a home with you. There are names to choose, bonding moments to engage with, injuries and illnesses to consider and of course the all-important playtimes. Now, you should be ready for your very own Dangerous Pet.
Bold and bright illustrations are packed with details, there are notes in the corner of each page alongside all the potential to look at, pay careful attention to it all and you will never look back. You will also have a fantastic reading opportunity, plenty of giggles and a story that you’ll want to keep close to hand, for sharing and more reading opportunities!
Louise Ellis-Barrett
The Dog Who Was (Almost) Perfect
Jack Kurland, pub. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Doris is a dachshund who wears a bow-tie and prides herself on doing everything perfectly, from swimming to skateboarding, fetching sticks and then fetching bigger sticks (more challenging.) The list of things she prides herself on goes on!
She starts every morning by waking up Bill, her owner, and fetching his favourite slippers. Then, when it’s time for her to take him for a walk she practises her tricks. One day though she discovers that she has accidentally bitten a hole in one of Bill’s slippers and she panics. Will Bill be angry, will he be sad, or will he be angry and sad? There is only one solution. Doris runs off and starts to bury the slipper. Another dog wonders what she’s doing, then even more dogs come along, so she explains. They tell her they’ve all done much worse things, all of which are illustrated for us and include stealing sausages as well as making a hole in the sofa. They assure her that Bill will understand, so Doris goes back to him before taking him to see the buried slipper. Bill does indeed understand and explains to Doris, “We all make mistakes, no-one expects you to be perfect, Doris. We love you just as you are.” All seems well. In fact, Doris can’t even remember biting a hole in the slipper. It’s then we see what might have actually happened… Young readers will enjoy spotting the clues, and this is a reassuring story for those who really are trying hard to be good.
Jack Kurland’s quirky handwritten text suits the style of the illustrations. His previous book The Cat Who Couldn’t be Bothered also addressed feelings in a way that a child could understand and relate to, both could provide an excellent jumping-off point for at-home and classroom discussions about emotional wellbeing and caring for others. It’s also a nice story to share.
Diana Barnes
The Fisherman and the Mermaids
Diana Marciano, illus. David Pogran, trans. Angela Arnone, pub. Post Wave Children’s Books
There is a long history of tales about fishermen and mermaids encountering each other, from the traditional folktales of Ireland or Cornwall to a fairy story written by Oscar Wilde, the two groups are firmly entwined. This story, translated from Italian, is a gentle, thought-provoking, enticing addition to the category.
With strikingly beautiful illustrations and a short, simple, but engaging text this tale lures you in and keeps you spellbound until the final page whereafter you continue to think about it and wonder why it transfixed you so. The fisherman of the title is a solitary figure, in fact he is the only character, other than seagulls, his cat, and marine life that you see in the illustrations. The absence of the mermaids* gives them a more mystical and curious persona.
The fisherman encounters three mermaids who in turn present him with three precious gifts but to obtain these priceless offerings he must give something equally valuable in return. Riches and gold for one treasured memory, beauty and eternal youth for his dearest dream, and to be happy forever for his greatest wish. The fisherman declines these gifts. He values his memories, dreams, and wishes more than anything the mermaids can offer him. The mermaids leave, confused by the fisherman’s refusal and he falls into a contented sleep in his hammock.
This philosophical ending, thoughts about what is truly valuable, leaves you to wonder who you truly are without your memories, wishes and dreams which opens lots of talking points thus making it an interesting class read. The illustrations make wonderful use of light and dark, reflection and shadow, mesmerising colour and detail which easily capture your attention. This is a book that deserves to submerge yourself in.
*I spotted one small image on one page.
Natalie McChrystal Plimmer
The Little House that Needed A Witch
Sophie Pluim, trans. Polly Lawson, pub. Floris Books
I can’t quite pinpoint the moment I fell in love with this book but I think it was before I even started the story. On opening the beautiful cover, I was (and you will be too) presented with the most charming and whimsical pictures of the most charming house I have seen.
Having been won over by the beautiful pictures which I had to stop and study for they contain so many clues about the story that is to unfold, I turned another page to find myself in a gentle-looking forest dotted with mountains, rivers and paths. So now I was ready to discover where these woods were, where in them the Little House sat and why it was in need of a witch. The Little House was in the depths of the forest where the trees were dense and where, one autumn day its witch stepped out for a walk in the beautiful forest and didn’t come back. The house waited, patiently at first but as each season passed and the forest around the Little House began to take over it decided action needed to be taken. It needed a new witch and without any more hesitation it set off to find one.
A fairy tale with echoes of tales older than time, a steadfast determination and a reminder that we can all set out for a new start, once we feel ready. I was, I am, captivated by this story which is not only now firmly in my heart but very firmly at home on my bookcase. I hope you too will be enchanted.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Mabel and Merryglow: The Journey
Anne Montel and Loic Clement, illus. Julien Arnal, trans. Charis Ainslie, pub. Post Wave Children’s Books
This is a delightful book that highlights the power of friendship.
It’s the story of an extremely shy tortoise, Mabel, who is afraid of the dark, and her new friend Merryglow the firefly. Their friendship develops some much-needed self-confidence and a belief in their abilities. But when Merryglow develops the urge to go travelling, he leaves his friend Mabel alone and she worries about coping without him. However, her new confidence, together with meeting some new friends really helps. Both of our original friends have adventures and make new friends along the way, but they are still happy to meet again and enlarge their community.
The book has been translated from the original French and the translator has provided an excellent version that really flows and gives us a wonderful idea of the characters and their individual traits. The illustrations are beautifully executed with lots of fine detail that will repay the reader who explores the images. The layout of the images also works to provide an introduction to the way comics/graphic novels are laid out. This carries the story along and gives us a sense of the different perspectives that are shown in the story.
This is the second story in the series about the two friends, Mabel and Merryglow: The Spark was the first, and it works well as a standalone story, although it would be good to read the introductory adventure. A beautiful story for reception age children and older.
Margaret Pemberton
Our Islands
​Phoebe Roze, pub. Post Wave Children’s Books
Bear lives alone in a pink house on a Scottish island, and spends his days happily reading, cooking, fishing, and painting. (Let’s not ask too many questions about how he gets his supplies…)
One day during his morning swim, he is swept out to sea, and ends up on a beach, where he meets red-headed Isla, who looks a little bit like Mairi Hedderwick’s Katie Morag. He explains his predicament, and she offers to help, so they set off in a little boat. The first island they come to is a rock barely big enough for them both to stand on, and the next is too big. One is too full of noisy birds, and another is too quiet and makes Bear shiver. They find many islands where creatures live from puffins to seals, deer, otters and even bats hanging upside down in a cave. They also enjoy watching dolphins swim as they sail on. There are so many islands, more than they imagined, will they ever find Bear’s? Of course, they do, finally spotting the pink house and Bear goes home, and Isla sets off back to her own island. Bear resumes his normal life, but something is missing, and he knows exactly where to find it: the final page shows Isla and Bear having a hug, and the end papers at the back of the book show small pictures of them together, enjoying exploring the island and having a picnic.
Phoebe Roze’s beautiful illustrations show a strong sense of place as she uses the landscape and creatures of the Highlands where she grew up and still lives for her inspiration. However unlikely the story, this, her debut picture book, is a delight.
Diana Barnes
Rainbow and Rain
Jana Curll, pub. Ladybird Books
Navigating the world of friendship can be tricky for the best of us, but especially so for young children just starting school. Should we expect complete loyalty from our best friend? What if they get bored with the games and activities we share together, or want to alter the rules? How should we react when new people come along and want to join us, changing the dynamic of the world we have created? How do we cope with feeling left out, or overwhelmed by new situations?
Jana Curll addresses all of these worries in this delightful brightly coloured picture book, ideal for sharing with young children. Rainbow and Rain are best friends, content to play together all day long. But Rainbow feels angry and threatened when their happy games are interrupted by the arrival of newbie, Star, who wants to play with them. Watching from a distance, Rainbow can see new aspects to her erstwhile best buddy which she had not noticed before. Does this mean that Star and Rain are the new perfect pals? Sensibly, Rainbow tries to make new friends, but finds that Wind is too boisterous, Moon too preoccupied, Fog and Snow rather difficult to get used to and Thunder and Lightning altogether too alarming. Sadly playing by herself, Rainbow reflects on how much she misses her best friend, when suddenly Rain turns up with a great idea - a new game the three friends can play together! Soon they are having so much fun together, they invite the others to come and join them too.
Through Rainbow’s facial expressions as the story progresses, we are left in no doubt about how she feels at different stages of the friendship adventure. So whilst her sometimes negative feelings are validated, we are reassured that there is hope that everything will turn out alright in the end. A comforting story to return to time and again.
Hilary Kemp
