Stephens, H. (2014). How to Hide a Lion from Grandma. London, UK: Alison Green Books.
ISBN: 9781407139050
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook
Rating: 3 stars
---------------
Iris and her family live with a brave, kind lion. One weekend Iris's Grandma comes to stay and they have to find ways to hide the lion, because we all know that grandmas get anxious if they find a lion in the house! With all sorts of creative hiding places Grandma never seems to notice the lion right in front of her eyes! But Grandma has a secret of her own What could possibly be in the gigantic box she brought with her?
Helen Stephens has told this story in a lovely old-fashioned style of writing with lots of 'grandma-isms' like 'bit and bobs' and 'we'll see's'.
There is quite a lot of text and the font used (or maybe the fuzzy print) is not the easiest to see so this will make a better read-aloud than a book children will read to themselves.
The illustrations are also very old-fashioned in appearance giving the book a nostalgic feel when I read it (No I'm not that old!!! But it reminded me of the Little Golden Books from when I was a kid). They accompany the text perfectly.
A lovely read-aloud, especially good for grandmas to read when they come visiting :-)
I got my copy of Kiwi Corkers: A Kiwi Christmas Carol from the Taradale Primary School library where I work.
You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.
Bennett, E. (2014). Big and Small. Gosford, Australia: Scholastic.
ISBN: 9781742761053
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook
Rating: 3 stars
---------------
Big and Small are best of friends. One day they decide to go out to play and take a picnic lunch with them. But Small is so small he keeps getting into trouble and he is constantly asking for "A little help, please!" At the end of the day, when they are tucked up in be, is Big really so big and brave, or does he need a little help too?
This is just the cutest story about Big and Small's adventures. The rhyming text is simple with short sentences, and lots of repetition. The font used is nice and big and 'moves' across the pages fitting itself to the actions of the characters, making this a visually pleasing book to read.
Chapman's illustrations are fantastic. They are bright and colourful. Big is a great big bluey grey bear, and Small is a tiny little white mouse. You can see from their facial expressions just how much fun they have together, and although Small is constantly asking for help, Big never gets frustrated with his friend.
The illustrations start off as full page layouts and then alternate with a split layout, where you can see Small in trouble and Big saving him. I particularly like the page where they are about to roll down the hill.
What a gorgeous book to add to your collection. With a theme of friendship and having someone who's always there for you, this book will make for a lovely bed-time read.
I got my copy of Big andSmall from the Taradale Primary School library where I work.
You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.
MacIver, J. (2014). Marmaduke Duck on the Wide Blue Seas. Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic.
ISBN: 9781775431251
Pages: 40
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction
Rating: 5 stars
---------------
Marmaduke Duck is back in his third rollicking adventure. This time he is bold, he is brave, he is a Dare Devil Duck!
He decides that life running his sweet shop with Bernadette Bear is a bit boring so he packs up his cart full of marmalade jam and leave for a life of adventure. He buys a ship and sets sail with a crew made up of a rat, a dog, a cat, a llama, a lamb and a big black Bull. What could possibly go wrong???
MacIver's (sometimes tongue twisting) rhyme follows a classic format with a catchy rhythm - dah dah dah DAH dah dah dah dah DAH (or something like that!) It's a great read aloud and will cause much delight and laughter - especially when you trip over your tongue trying to keep to the rhythm ;-)
Davis's illustrations in a soft water colour palette add beautifully to MacIver's rhyme. The expressions of the characters faces and their postures clearly capture Marmaduke Duck and his crew's adventures and enhance the story. This is truly a case of the text and the illustrations combining to make the 'whole' book so much better than the 'individual components', which on their own are bloody marvelous!
Throughout the scenes of Marmaduke's adventure on the high seas you see glimpses of Bernadette Bear on her own journey to find Marmaduke. They make for their own text-less story, which I must admit I completely missed on my first couple of readings (I was more interested in the rollicking rhyme and the main images!)
This is another great book by Juliette MacIver and well worth adding to your collection.
I got my copy of Marmaduke Duck on the Wide Blue Seas from the Taradale Primary School library where I work.
You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.
