ReadItDaddy's Picture Book of the Week - Week Ending 15th May 2020: "The Littlest Yak" by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley (Simon and Schuster Children's Books)

We may be jumping the gun a little with our Picture Book of the Week this week, but though you'll have a bit of a wait on your hands for this little treasure, it'll be well worth it.

"The Littlest Yak" by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley takes on a story trope that we've seen many, many times in children's books over the years, yet manages to give it a fresh and vibrant spin - and a ton of atmospheric gorgeousness largely thanks to some brilliant characterisations and a unique setting.

Meet Gertie. She is the titular littlest Yak. All her relatives and sibs are HUGE. Great big stompy Yaks, mighty and strong so it's no wonder Gertie can't wait to be grown up, and big and strong herself.

Most kids go through a phase like this - and will love this bouncy rhyming story as it unfolds, and Gertie realises that sometimes being small - or being just the way you are - is better than anything else anyway.

We love Lu's story and we really do love Kate's work, cropping up time and again in our Book of the Week slot with her glorious illustrations.

Sum this book up in a sentence: A brilliant way to put a new spin on a core theme we have seen a lot in children's books, given new life and a superb bit of originality thanks to gorgeous Gertie!

"The Littlest Yak" by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley will be released on 3rd September 2020, published by Simon and Schuster Children's Books.