Thursday 3 October 2013

Best Lowly Worm Book Ever by Richard Scarry (HarperCollins Children's Books)


Best Lowly Worm Book Ever

Written and Illustrated by

Richard Scarry

Published by
HarperCollins Children's Books

Being in the most privileged and fortunate position to be able to review children's books in your spare time is a fabulous wondrous thing. Not only do you get to relive your childhood, revisit the books that you loved and cherished, and pass on that love to your children - you get the opportunity to discover new works by legends in children's publishing. Like Richard Scarry for instance, a man who firmly left his mark on children's books, became a massively influential figure, who left behind an astonishing body of work that still has the power to thrill and enthral children today.

"Best Lowly Worm Book Ever" is based on a set of manuscripts that Richard Scarry's son Richard (Huck) Jr discovered amongst Richard Sr's things.
The manuscripts placed a peripheral character, Lowly the fantastic Tyrolean-hatted uni-footed worm, front and centre and detailed his daily goings-on in trademark "Scarry" style.

We see Lowly getting up and getting dressed, brushing his teeth (Charlotte always finds it slightly puzzling that Scarry characters always brush their teeth BEFORE breakfast!) and enjoying the day with his friend Huckle and the Cat family.

Scarry fans definitely won't be disapointed with this new work, it bears all the hallmarks and brilliance of his other books - including the things we always look out for, those wonderfully imaginative vehicles that always feature in Scarry books (Lowly drives a fab little Apple car!)

Timeless, endlessly appealing, crammed with detail and like the slightly moth-eared but very well loved Scarry books I've passed down to Charlotte, a book that she'll be able to keep and pass down to her own children and grandchildren one day.

Charlotte's best bit: The anatomy of a worm (yes, even worms have bottoms!)

Daddy's Favourite bit: A fantastic "lost work" brought to life and a welcome addition to Scarry's huge catalogue of fabulous timeless books.

(Kindly sent to us by HarperCollins Children's Books)