Ben Faulks has captured my imagination and got me to run with it to discover who I am, just as the boy in the book does. The boy goes on a journey of self discovery and awareness that is portrayed in a way to make you laugh and be at ease with differences.
Without a doubt this picture filled book of facts about awesome animals will be running off the shelves. I am serious, this book is not only packed full of interesting information but its also a colourful wonderland that will have your least enthusiastic reader turning the pages wanting to learn more.
So what is up to? That is what we are left wondering when we get to the end of the book, but throughout the story the children's imagination is fed and inspired. From pages with almost nothing on a it to busy pages with baboons and giraffes our goal is to think about what is on top of the cheeky ladder.
One thing I am learning about Rachel Bright and Jim Field is that they write and illustrate awesome books that are funny, with a captivating message on the side. The Squirrels Who Squabbled is a beautiful story of friendship and working together, but to get there laughter is ensured.
The first time I opened this book I instantly loved it. The story begins with Mr Moot living his happy quiet life with his beloved Fluffywuffy. He wasn't troubled by anything, that is until cousin Clarence decides to move in for ..."a week...or a month, or quite possibly a year!" Mr Moot was optimistic that it wouldn't be so bad, fluffywuffy remained knowingly silent.
I wasn't sure what this book was exactly going to be about, apart from a Sloth Who Came to Stay of course. I could only imagine that there would be an element of slow to the book, I did not expect there to be such strong and emotive message for adults. Although I am not a mamma it certainly illustrated to me how our busy, fast paced lives that we continue to fill, shape how we are as a family (not just those with children) and dictate our lives. It takes something, like the Sloth in this picture book, to make us stop and realise just what we are bypassing when we are speeding around. There is so much to see, appreciate and love when we are reminded to take our time.
When you open a book and before you even get to the first chapter you read a statement that says "No chickens were hurt during the course of writing this book, because chickens are good and we LIKE chickens" you know the book is going to be a little bit quirky and a lot of funny.
Andy Lee is not someone you think of as an author of a children's book, well I don't anyway, I usually associate him adult humour. Andy is quite adamant that the pages shouldn't be turned....but it is just too tempting of course and well read on to find out more...
In this book, Min the microbe (who is as small as a dot), takes you on an adventure looking at microbes and everyday things very very close up (microscopic). The microscope images by Linnea Rundgren are of everyday things we come in contact with such as paper, teeth and skin, which is completely fascinating.
Today at 11am was National simultaneous Storytime (NSS) which is an annual Australian event that is aimed at encouraging young Australians to read and enjoy books. More information can be found at ALIA. This years book is The Cow Tripped Over the Moon by Tony Wilson and Laura Wood. It is such a fun story, and in celebration of NSS I thought I would share my thoughts on this book.
Little Big Reads 