Story-Go-Round

• illustrations that enhance the story rather than just depict it

• use of illustrative style and techniques appropriate to the age of the intended audience

• an original well-rounded story written primarily to entertain children

• careful use of language (every word is important)

• fun to read aloud to a single child or to groups

Recent Favourites:

• Penguin  Polly Dunbar  (Walker)  ISBN 978 1 84428 065 0

Ben gets a toy penguin. It's perfect in every way - but it won't talk. Ben does everything he can think of to make Penguin talk. His attempts get crazier and more fantastical, even feeding Penguin to a passing lion, who spits it out again. Suddenly, the lion eats Ben for being too noisy, Penguin bites Lion on the nose, and Ben is spat out again. Now Penguin talks - in a huge word bubble of childlike images. It's an intriguing story, illustrated in a whimsical fashion - probably best for 4 to 6 year-olds who can understand the fantastical element of the story and the significance of the word bubble. (Nov)

• Odd Bird Out  Helga Bansch  (Gecko Press)  ISBN 978 1 87746 709 7

Translated from the original German version, this quirky picture book celebrates individuality. Robert is a raven with a difference - he doesn't go round in black looking sombre, instead he loves singing and dressing up and cracking jokes. He is driven away by the other ravens for being too outrageous. But life is very boring after he's gone, and when a "new" raven arrives called Bobbie to jazz up their concert nights, nobody suspects a thing! The story is illustrated in a vibrant caricature-like style that is best for children already at school. (Nov)

• Peter and the Pig  Simon Grant, illus. Jenny Cooper  (Scholastic NZ)  ISBN 978 1 86943 902 6

Peter the Pirate goes into a pet shop to buy a parrot. There isn't one available, but the keen shop owner convinces him to try a pig instead. Things get worse and worse for Peter, who ends up being a figure of fun at a local swimming pool rather than a ferocious pirate. Children of about 4 to 7 will enjoy the escalating repetition of the story, and the big, bright cartoon-style illustrations. A great read-aloud.  (Oct)

• Rats!  Gavin Bishop  (Random House NZ)  ISBN 978 1 86941 902 8

All libraries and schools should have copies of this prizewinning book. Polly Piper is overrun with rats. A feline Pied Piper entices the rats to an old cabin on top of a mountain, where they are cold and hungry. Meanwhile Polly is discovering she's lonely without her rats. When they beg to come back, she's happy to agree... The atmospheric illustrations in muted shades provide a slightly old-fashioned flavour to the story. Children will love the quirky aspects of the pictures.  (Oct)

• My Favourite Places  Martin Bailey  (Mallinson Rendel)  ISBN 978 1 877423 20 8

Another well-presented hardback volume from Mallinson Rendel, this picture book is close to be wordless. The young hero, who looks to be about seven or eight, sets off for a wander in the wild. The different landscapes he encounters are transformed in his imagination into exciting and adventurous situations - the jungle, the Wild West, the African plains, etc. The alternating doublespread pages of reality and imagination create an interesting challenge for readers. The illustrations are big and bright, and would be good to demonstrate to groups. Very young preschoolers may need adult assistance in understanding the relationship between reality and fantasy.  (Sept)

• Big Red Hen and the Little Lost Egg  Margaret Wild, illus. Terry Denton  (Viking - Penguin Australia)  ISBN 978 0 670 87191 9

Big Red Hen loves looking after baby birds - goslings, moorhen chicks, ducklings, baby turkeys. One day she finds a lost egg all on its own, and decides to hatch it. There's plenty of excitement as the birds speculate what the egg will produce. Big Red Hen doesn't really mind - but she gets an extra special surprise when the egg finally hatches. It's a simple story with plenty of repetition. The ilustrations of the different birds are big and cheerful - it would make a good readaloud for a group of preschoolers.  (Sept) 

• The Dudgeon is Coming  Lynley Dodd  (Mallinson Rendel)  ISBN 978-1-877423-17-8

This is an amusing look at what happens when people don't listen properly and get the wrong information. Initially the approaching dudgeon is said to be shy and polite, but by the time he's nearly here he's said to be - TERRIBLE! Of course, the next page reveals a small, friendly, harmless creature... As always, the rhyme bounces along beautifully, the whispering animals are weird and wonderful, and the illustrations are colourful and amusing. Great for reading aloud to pre-schoolers.  (Aug)

• Silly Billy  Anthony Browne  (Walker Books) ISBN 978-1-4063-0576-0

This is one of Anthony Browne's more serious books. Billy is a worrier. He worries about the most unusual things. But his Grandma finds the solution - she gives him some worry dolls (originally from Guatemala). Billy ends up making worry dolls for the worry dolls - and worry dolls for all his friends - and guess what? He doesn't worry any more. I can just see preschool teachers reading this book aloud and then setting the children to making their own worry dolls... (Aug)

• Tiddler: The Story-telling Fish  Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler  (Alison Green Books, Scholastic) ISBN 978 0 439943 77 2

Another jolly picture book (hardback) by the creators of The Gruffalo. Tiddler is a little fish with a big imagination - he always comes up with the most amazing reasons why he's late for school. But one day Tiddler is caught in a net and ends up a very long way from home. Amazingly, he finds his way home by following one of his own stories... Preschoolers will enjoy the bouncy rhyme, the bright and busy underwater seascapes, and the friendly cartoon-style fish. (July)

• The Big Dark  John Prater  (Red Fox)  ISBN 978 0 099 48752 4

"In a distant, dark, cold land lived little Chinoo with his parents, in a house built of snow." He is thoroughly fed up because the winter darkness seems to be going on for ever. But one day his parents take him out for a walk. On the way he meets polar bears, wolves, and walruses. They all wait on the edge of the frozen sea for ... the sun! The illustrations of the Arctic environment are very appealing, with clever use of glitter to convey the sparkle of the ice and snow. Probably best for children over five who are able to understand a landscape so different to their own. (July)

• Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy  Lynley Dodd  (Mallinson Rendel)  ISBN 978 1 877423 14 7

Why am I reviewing this old favourite? Well, it's 25 years since Hairy Maclary went for his walk, and the publishers have issued a handsome hardback version to mark the occasion - with a 25th anniversary sticker, a great deal of gold decoration, letters from young fans printed on the endpapers, and a CD of The Hairy Maclary Song. Every NZ child should have a copy of this classic, so now's the time to buy one for your favourite young person - or to replace old copies that have been loved to death. (June)

The Reluctant Little Flower Girl  Melanie Koster and Jenny Cooper  (Mallinson Rendel)  ISBN  978 1 877423 09 3

Another good-looking hardback picture book from this publisher. Bouncy rhyming text tells the tale of the fifth little flower girl, who simply doesn't want to join in the fun. She'd rather wear her gumboots than the new shoes; she turns up her nose at the posy of roses. But then she sees the beautiful bride - and her frowns turn to smiles. This will strike a chord with girls who've experienced the joys (and pitfalls) of being a flower girl. Jenny Cooper's illustrations are done in a cheerful, softly-coloured cartoon style - they are bound to appeal. (June)

• The Bean's Story  Tatiana Aslund  (Scholastic NZ)  ISBN 978 1 86943 718 3

This attractive picture book will be useful for teachers looking for junior material to support their nature studies. Based on the nursery rhyme This Is the House That Jack Built, it follows the growth of a bean plant, right from seed planting to seed production. The rhyming text bounces merrily along, but the illustrations are the best part of the book - close-up photos of applique fabric work, with very clever use of stitching to provide detail. The big patterns and bright colours make the book excellent for demonstrating in a classroom. Recommended. (March)

• The Grumble Rumble Mumbler  Melanie Drewery; illustration and design by Loudmouth Productions  (Huia)  ISBN 978 1 86969 284 1

The computer design of this book gives it an energetic and very up-to-date appearance that will attract modern youngsters. It provides a fresh look at the age-old problem of monsters under the bed. The little girl can't sleep, and her mother repeatedly arrives to deal with the strange grumbles, snufflings, gurgles and whistlings. However the ordinary reasons for the noises are belied by the flaps, which lift to reveal an interesting assortment of monsters. The repetition is great, and the use of Maori words is another bonus. There's also a twist at the end, which I won't give away. Best for four to six year-olds who are no longer frightened by the idea of monsters. Recommended.  (March)

• Someday  Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds  (Atheneum)  ISBN 978 1 4169 2811 9

A simple but appealing hardback book which shows a mother reflecting on  the milestones that her daughter will achieve during life, from diving into a lake to brushing her own child's hair. The essence of the text is captured well by the sparse, clean lines and muted colours of the cartoon-style illustrations. A great book for mother and daughter (aged about 4 to 7). (Feb)

• Alfie and the Big Boys  Shirley Hughes  (Bodley Head)  ISBN 978 0 370 32884 3

Shirley Hughes is a particular favourite of mine. Alfie and his friends at nursery school are fascinated by the kids playing next door at Big School - but of course the big boys don't take any notice of the preschoolers. One day Alfie is at a local plant sale when he notices Ian, one of the big boys, in tears because he's lost his mum. Alfie is pleased to be able to assist and gratified by Ian's need of a familiar face. Many children will empathise with this warm-hearted look at playground dynamics. Great for preschoolers. (Feb)

• I've Lost My Kisses  Trudie Trewin & Nick Bland  (Scholastic Australia)  ISBN 978 1 86504 421 7

Matilda Rose loves to kiss - but she's lost her kisses. She searches high and low, in the cereal box, in the cupboards, down the well, but can't find them anywhere. But when Poppa arrives at the airport, Matilda suddenly finds herself absolutely jam-packed with kisses! This quiet, gentle story is illustrated in matching style, rendered in black pencil with touches of soft colour. It's a good book to share with a pre-schooler on a one-to-one basis.  (Dec)

• Happy Birthday, Winnie!  Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul  (Oxford University Press)  ISBN 978 0 19 272737 4

Another title in the popular Winnie The Witch series. Winnie throws a birthday party, and as you can imagine, it's very exciting. There's so much noise that Winnie has to use the magic trumpet given to her by Cousin Cuthbert - and much to her amazement all the guests disappear! But soon they return, and Winnie conjures up the most enormous cake you ever saw in your life (a big foldout). Children aged about 5 to 8 will enjoy the action- and detail-packed cartoon illustrations.  (Dec)

• Animal Soup  Ian Whybrow, illus. Teresa Murfin  (Scholastic; Alison Green Books)  ISBN 978 0 439943 05 5

This rhyming story is about what happens when Oliver - a witch's son - plays with his animal soup. Oliver literally dives into his soup, and his mother dashes after him. She encounters a whale, inside that there's an elephant, inside that there's a hippopotamus, and so on, until she eventually finds Oliver unharmed. They're back safely in the kitchen - but what about the animal crackers?? The zany cartoon pictures with lots of action would make this fun to read aloud to preschoolers. (Nov)

• Tyrannosaurus Drip  Julia Donaldson, illus. David Roberts  (Macmillan)  ISBN 978 1 4 050 9000 1

This bouncy rhyming story takes a playful look at a baby duckbill dinosaur (peaceful, vegetarian) who gets hatched in the nest of the tyrannosaurus over the river (fierce, carnivorous). The baby has a tough time with his two tyrannosaurus sisters, who scornfully label him Tyrannosaurus Drip. He runs away to join his real family, and eventually manages to save the duckbills from the hungry tyrannosaurus clan. The funny illustrations, especially the idiotic tyrannosaurus family, mean that preschoolers should be able to cope with the monster theme. (Nov)