This is another #Booky100Keeper that has become a colossal part of the family's vocabulary.

From an early age, C has really hated being stared at by other kids, particularly when she's eating. So when we first read "The Bear Who Stared" by Duncan Beedie, the book could have been tailor-made for her.

It's the story of a bear who really doesn't mean any harm, but rather rudely, can't help but stare. He stares at strangers, he stares at friends, he even puts people off their lovely picnic lunch by staring.

He just can't help himself!

Soon though the bear realises that his natural curiosity is unwelcome, and after much soul-searching, realises there are better ways to make friends than goggling at 'em!

The reason this book has been a keeper, and the reason it's so well loved is because it's now C's weapon against kids who stare. Every time it happens, in a loud voice she'll turn to us and say "Hey Daddy / Mummy. Do you remember that book, oh what was it called now. You know, the one about the bear. The bear who couldn't stop staring. Oh what was the name of it?" - to much amusement on our part, and complete ignorance on the part of the starer (probably, unless they have excellent taste and have picked up Duncan's book but learned absolutely nothing from it).

We feel it's also worth mentioning another keeper, purely because this one will get you RIGHT IN THE HEART EVERY TIME...

"The Last Chip" is the story of a pigeon. Now, normally I despise and loathe pigeons with an intense burning hatred (we are plagued with them where we live, waking us up every morning at 4 AM making that ridiculous noise they make when they're feeling a bit fruity) but the pigeon in this book plucks at our heart strings something rotten (thanks largely to Duncan's gift of creating the most brilliant characterful illustrations in his books).

Percy is small, and finds it difficult to find food amongst the sprawling city buildings where he makes his home. Other pigeons are big bullies and force Percy to scratch for the merest scraps. As he gets hungrier and hungrier, Percy decides to make one last effort to find a place to live where he will find lots to eat.

He almost uses his last ounce of strength doing so, but on arrival at the seaside Percy finds life is even tougher - thanks to nasty seagulls who have staked out their territory and don't want a scruffy little pigeon muscling in on their patch.

Thankfully at the last moment Percy finds a friend, a man in a similar circumstance - with not much to his name, but perhaps a last chip to let Percy finally have a feast and get some of his strength back. By this time in the book we're utter wrecks - and I'm sure that any author / illustrator, on hearing that their work has such a huge emotional effect on their readers, is secretly quite chuffed. So they should be!

Original review links: 

The Lumberjack's Beard by Duncan Beedie (Templar Publishing)

ReadItDaddy's Super-Special Children's Book Award Picture Book of the Week - Week Ending 8th March 2019: "The Last Chip" by Duncan Beedie (Templar Publishing)

ReadItDaddy's Second Picture Book of the Week - Week Ending 8th February 2019: "Molly's Moon Mission" by Duncan Beedie (Templar Publishing)

The Bear who Stared by Duncan Beedie (Templar Publishing)

The ReadItDaddy Podcast - January 2017

This week's super-special Children's Book Award Picture Book of the Week is a fantastic book we've covered before (January 2018 to be precise) when it won a coveted "Picture Book of the Week" award. 

Kids obviously also have excellent taste when it comes to fantastic picture books, as now we're happy to join the Federation of Children's Book Groups 2019 Children's Book Awards to talk about Duncan Beedie's fantastic shortlisted book "The Last Chip" and to once again let it completely break our resolve not to be big crybabies.

When we're on the lookout for fabulous picture books, we often look for those 'hooks' that pull you straight into a story. Sometimes the hook can be the storyline itself, sometimes it can be something unexpected in the early stages of the book. Sometimes it's a particular theme or issue that hte author / illustrator has set out to explore, and they nail it right from the get go. 

Duncan has that gift for creating those hooks - putting together the most beautiful stories and illustrations to impart simple but heartfelt messages of hope, and right now let's face it, that's exactly the sort of 'book balm' we need. 

So without further ado, let's meet Percy, the modest star of "The Last Chip". 

Now, we're definitely not what you could describe as "Pigeon lovers" by any stretch of the imagination (their cooing early in the mornings at this time of year drives us absolutely batty at home) but you just can't help but fall for Percy as soon as you meet him.

He's such a tiny little fellah, and every morning he dutifully turns up at the train station ready to peck up any crumbs that commuters might drop on their way to work.

The big problem (or should we say BIG FEATHERY PROBLEMS) come in the form of a gang of unruly bullying pigeons who always greedily bundle in every time there's any food around. They squeeze poor Percy out (one in particular made us cackle, a rather ornery looking pigeon with those horrible missing / stumpy feet you sometimes see pigeons in London hobbling around on - EEKS!)

Glorious, gorgeous book this.

Soon the tiny little pidge realises he needs to look further afield for his grub. He tries the park, but the ducks are nasty and don't like anyone muscling in on their pond / birdseed racket.

He flies as far as the coast. Poor Percy doesn't even find any grub there as nasty piratical seagulls are having none of this landlubber trying to peck up their fish-and-chip suppers!

We lolled at the stall names here. Another utterly beautiful spread.

So what will Percy do? Weak, starving and absolutely exhausted he sadly heads back to the city - and finds an unexpected friend and thankfully finally gets to share supper with someone who gives him their last chip, even though they're down on their luck themselves.

Oh it was that bit - it just had us blubbing like babies. Such a gorgeous warm message and if you're not bawling by the end of this book, you have no heart. We both still think this is Duncan's best work yet (certainly the illustrations are luxuriously gorgeous, I mean just LOOK at them!) - But C pointed out that we're STILL not allowed to like this more than "The Bear Who Stared", another of Duncan's books that has worked its way into our everyday lives, being referenced every single time we see one of those rude little girls or boys who can't stop staring. 

Worth noting that part of the proceeds from this book have been donated to The Trussell Trust - a very worthy cause that fits beautifully with the book's core message and story. 

What a lovely gesture and just one more reason why you need this book in your life.

C's best bit: The evil stump-footed pigeon who stalks the railway station. Eeesh!

Daddy's favourite bit: A beautiful message, utterly amazing and gorgeous illustrations, the tender warm heart of a truly lovely story and yes, we did blub. Wonderful work, Duncan!

"The Last Chip" by Duncan Beedie is out now, published by Templar (kindly supplied for review). 

Don't forget to check out the other 'stops' on the Children's Book Award Top Ten Tour! 

Oh goodness me, picture books once again have the power to completely break our resolve not to be big crybabies with this beautifullty heartfelt tale from Duncan Beedie. "The Last Chip" is our first Picture Book of the Week this week...