World Of Children's Books: May 2014

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Picture Book Review - I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean - Kevin Sherry (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for Toddlers/Younger Readers

I ordered this into the library on the recommendation that it was a bit 'darker' than a regular picture book. Darker as in there might be death! Well, if you're expecting Game of Thrones style darkness, then you'll be sorely mistaken. And really, really unfamiliar with what a children's picture book normally entails. If, however, you like a bit of animals getting their commupence in a darkish, very funny way, similar to Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back, then this is perfect.

Giant Squid is the biggest thing in the ocean! Or so he claims. He'd better watch his back, because whilst he's boasting about being bigger than everything else throughout the story, there might just be something sneaking up on him...

I do love a book that makes me genuinely laugh, and this is no exception. Though the biggest laugh is at the very end as Giant Squid gets his commupence, it's fun all the way through, and the illustrations add to it. There's a slightly manic look to the main character throughout, and I love the veryt cartoon-ish style to the pictures. There's a list of picture books that will make adults laugh out loud, and this is a definite addition to it.

Short and fun, this is definitely one that parents should endeavour to order in to their local library for their kids.

9/10

Friday, 23 May 2014

Picture Book Review – Beware of the Frog – William Bee (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for Toddlers/Younger Readers

I’ve not come across William Bee before, but I found this on a list of ‘darker’ picture books. It’s not dark like Game of Thrones (obviously…), but I suppose for a book for young children this does have a sort of dark edge to it. Which is fine, because this is very funny indeed.

Poor Mrs Collywobbles is hiding in her kitchen, afraid of the Greedy Goblin, the Smelly Troll and the Giant Hungry Ogre that want to eat her. Luckily she has a guard frog to help protect her, one that the evil creatures had better start taking seriously…

Children will love the guard frog who turns out to be rather more capable than the creatures give him credit for. Parents will laugh along, too, as he successfully stops them from eating Mrs Collywobbles. And everyone will be in stitches with the final twist, which comes out of nowhere and is wonderfully clever.

The illustrations are nice, unique enough to make them stand them, but not outlandish or overstated. It’s a very simple story altogether, but one that works brilliantly, and that parents will love as much as their children. It’s the sort of thing that Mo Willems or Jon Klassen would write, which is ever a bonus.

Definitely one to check out!

10/10

Picture Book Review – Knight School – Jane Clarke (Author) &Jane Massey (Illustrator)

Recommended for Toddlers/Younger Readers

Little Knight and Little Dragon are best friends, and can’t wait to start school. But knights go to school during the day, and dragons at night, so how will the two friends make sure they have the time to play together again?

I’m sure that one of a child’s biggest fears upon starting school is whether or not they will manage to stay friends with other children that they've been able to play alongside day after day. Especially so for children who end up going to different schools. My son has friends in at least five different villages, so the chance of him going to school with all of them is minimal. Knight School is a great story for giving him the belief that he’ll stay friends with them no matter what. Despite the differences in knights and dragons (technically they’re meant to fight each other over princesses, after all…), it shows that friendship can conquer all boundaries. Who can’t love a tale like that?

The artwork is beautiful, rendered in watercolours I believe, and it fits the fantasy theme of the story really well. It’s bright, colourful and eye-catching, and is just what the story deserves.

I’ve gotten this out from the library on a couple of occasions because it’s so lovely. I might favour the picture books that make me laugh out loud overall, but this deserves a place on any child’s bookshelf.

9/10

Picture Book Review – Mack and Muck! – Sebastien Braun (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for Toddlers/Younger Readers

This is definitely one of the biggest hits with my son that I’ve brought home from the library. Well, it has tractors in it, which are second only to diggers in his mind, so any book that features two tractors at its core is going to be a winner.

Mack is the only tractor on the farm, but he’s not best pleased when little Muck arrives to help. At first he’s not impressed with Muck’s efforts, and can’t understand why everyone praises the little tractor, but with time he realises that Muck is just learning, and that sharing the workload can be fun after all.

It’s a lovely little story about learning to share things, particularly relevant for older siblings to learn about sharing with their younger ones. The illustrations are quite basic compared to some other picture books, but they’re really bright and I think they give a lovely compliment to the story.

There are other books in a similar vein by Sebastien Braun, and they’re all worth checking out.

My son goes back to this time and time again, just to get another glimpse of the tractors. If he picks this one out over others, there’s got to be something right about it.

8/10

Picture Book Review – Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs – Mo Willems

Suitable for Toddlers/Younger Readers

I’m having trouble thinking of how to start off this review. Perhaps the easiest way is to say I can’t imagine how anything will top this in 2014. It’s my favourite book that Mo Willems has ever written, and that’s saying something. I always laugh during his works, but this tops all of them. The randomness of half the text, the absurdity of it all, and taking a well known tale like Goldilocks and turning it on its head in such a funny way is fantastic.

‘Once upon a time, there were three Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur and some other Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.’ And so begins the unorthodox tale of how Goldilocks stumbled upon the home of some dinosaurs, not bears. I don’t think I’ll ever come across a better opening sentence. I wish I could write down all the sentences, because every single one is a joy, but that would spoil the fun of reading it.

I laughed, and I laughed, and I laughed all the way through. I’m not sure if I can actually read this at a storytime as I think I’ll be laughing too much to myself all the way through. The self-referential humour, acknowledging the dinosaurs plans whilst pretending they’re going for an innocent walk, and the way the ‘wind’ sounds eerily like dinosaurs plotting, or rock’s falling, or a squirrel…I can’t do it enough justice. It’s up there with some of the greatest comedy writing in any medium, anywhere, ever. People should be quoting this as much as they quote Anchorman.

The illustrations are as delightful as ever, with Mo Willems’ easily recognisable style complimenting the cartoon feel of the story as well as they ever do. It’s all hilarious from start to finish. I’m flicking back and forth through the pages as I’m writing this, and I’m laughing again and again. Honestly, this is better than 99% of comedy shows out there at the moment. Whoever thinks that picture books are just for children is missing out.

An easy entry into the World of Children’s Books Hall of Fame. I honestly feel that if you don’t read this, you’re missing out on one of the funniest things you could ever read in life. Make sure you do.

10/10 and an entry into the Picture Book Hall of Fame

Picture Book Review – The Day the Crayons Quit – Drew Daywalt (Author) & Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator)

Recommended for Toddlers/Younger Readers

Kate Greenaway Medal Shortlisted Item

I remember reading This is a Book, and thinking just how clever the concept of it was. I have similar feelings about The Day the Crayons Quit. It’s such a simple, clever idea, and delivered absolutely brilliant, that I would be delighted if it won the Kate Greenaway Medal this year.

Its story is a simple one: one day, Duncan takes out his crayons, and finds a set of letters written by each colour addressed to him. Each of them details a complaint about how Duncan misuses them, such as Red Crayon being overused, or Beige Crayon tired of being second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Each complaint is recognisable in reality (I bet your child always chooses brown over beige), and there’s some wonderfully silly ones, particularly the complaint about the paper wrapping being peeled off. All of them are perfectly done, and a joy to read. It’s a shame there aren’t more crayon colours!

The illustrations are typical Oliver Jeffers, which is to say they’re fantastic. He’s got such an easily recognisable style, and it’s one of my favourites. I’m never sure how much the Kate Greenaway Medal is judged solely on the illustrations or whether the script comes into play, but if anyone deserved to win based on drawings alone then it’s Oliver Jeffers. His style just fits so well with the feel of a children’s book, it seems unfair for him not to win year in, year out.

I’m trying to read through all the Kate Greenaway nominees this year, but at the moment I’m not sure how any of them are going to be able to beat The Day the Crayons Quit.

10/10 and an entry into the picture book Hall of Fame.