Fair shares by Pippa Goodhart and Anna Doherty
A heartwarming, fun and colourful picture book, with an important message about sharing. A bear and a hare both want a pear, but neither can reach them. In their attempt to do so they learn that ‘being fair’ doesn’t always mean ‘getting the same’. I can see this being really popular with children aged 2 to 6 years and their parents/carers. The later whom will really appreciated the way it gives the reader more than one way to look at sharing. Great rhyming language, told in a way that young children will really be able to relate too, and an great twist at the end.
The pictures are vibrant and colourful, making great use of orange, green and yellow. Ann Doherty the illustrator explains at the back page that that the art work was produced digitally, but she scanned textures she had made in pen and ink for the animals fur. The contrast between the two works brilliantly. There are also the most delightful end-pages.
You can find out more about publisher Tiny Owl the publisher and buy the book here.
Thank you to Tiny Owl for a free copy of this book to review.
Oscar Seeks a Friend by Pawel Pawlak
Translated from Polish by Antonia Lloyd-Jones
A truly wonderful story about a friendship between a little girl and a Skeleton. The story has a delightful opening where a Skeleton has lost a tooth and is worried how he looks, then he finds a girl burying a tooth. It gently introduces the characters concerns and worries. As the story progresses they share experiences and show each other their worlds. The story is brought to life and transformed into a unique book by the colourful collage like pictures on every page. There are plenty of possibilities for children to be inspired to do their own art from these pictures. This book will help to open up conversations about friendship and encourage children to have the courage to reach out and ask someone for something or to do something. I am so glad that Lantana Publishing chose to translate this book from Polish so that English children can enjoy it too.
The book is published on 10th October. You can find out more about Lantana Publishing and buy the book here.
Also check out: Library Girl and Book Boys podcast interview with translator Antonia Lloyd-Jones. In which Antonia tells us that author and graphic artist Pawel Pawlak starts his ideas with the character and then the scene and the pictures usually come first before the words. And Antonia talks about some of the challenges she faced translating the puns and hidden assumptions about Skeletons from Polish, and coming up with a new name for the character that would work in English.
Thank you to Lantana Publishing for a free copy this book to review,
Thank Goodness for Bob by Mathew Morgan and Gabriel Aborozo
A story about a boy called Max, who has lot’s of worries and his dog Bob. In a way children will really relate to the story explores some of the things kids worry about. It makes imaginative use of bubbles to put worries in. One day Max discovered Bob the dog is great at listening. And that by talking about his worries to someone that listens they do not feel as big anymore. My favourites pages of the story is where the boy and the dog pop the worry bubbles together. A great book to open up conversations about feelings and worries, but also great for a child to read alone, helping them to realise they are not the only one with worries and that sharing them with someone can help.
All the books are available from me at Readers that Care. And Oscar Seeks a friend is one of the hardback books available to my £40 a term members in my 2 for £10 termly offer.
