Monday, 31 January 2011
Save Our Libraries Day - Saturday Feb 5th 2011
ReadItDaddy is firstly and foremostly a children's book review website but from time to time I'll be covering book-related news.
The issue of the government's plans to close down a huge number of local libraries is a shockingly ill-informed decision. Our local library may end up being one of the affected, and without that library this blog most definitely wouldn't exist.
An action day is taking place across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Saturday 5th February 2011. The nation's book lovers are encouraged to show their support for their local library by using it on this day. Show the government that this valuable resource should not merely be swept under the carpet or put out to seed in the vain hope that enough kindly volunteers will step in and run library services. The plan is ill conceived and ridiculous in the extreme, and libraries already struggling to maintain a service will be forced to close as a result of this policy.
Oxfordshire library users will be treated to a passionate speech or three on the matter by bestselling Oxford-based author Phillip Pullman, the genius behind the 'His Dark Materials' books. Pullman is currently raising the profile of the campaign to halt the government's ridiculous plans to sever library services.
Stand up for your local library. Get bookish on saturday.
Friday, 28 January 2011
The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon
Mini Grey's books are a real treat. The genius behind Biscuit Bear, Egg Drop and Traction Man turns her attention to the classic nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle", concentrating on two of its characters, Dish and Spoon.
No ordinary dinnerware these two, Dish and Spoon are part of a successful double act, travelling the world making people marvel at their antics.
Their adventures span the globe but life takes a rather tragic turn - and the rest of the book is a bittersweet melancholy lesson on how you should treasure life when life is good.
It's difficult to describe just how Mini Grey puts together a seemingly higgledy piggledy hotch potch of page layouts and knowing references to the original nursery rhyme in such an original way but it's a fantastic book chock full of superb illustrations and storytelling.
Charlotte's best bit: Poor cracked dish!
Daddy's favourite bit: The classic Dish and Spoon LP at the back (with accompaniment by other characters from the nursery rhyme)
Rating: 5 out of 5
Baggy Brown
Labels:
Baggy Brown,
Hodder Children's Books,
Mick Inkpen
Mick (Wibbly Pig, Spot) Inkpen has produced some of the best loved children's books of the last decade or so. With his characters making the leap to the small screen, it's nice to hunt out some of his less well known books for a quick look.
Baggy Brown tells the story of a rather special teddy bear, number 1 of a limited edition set of bears. Number 1 is special, as he was made for a royal Princess but after a series of accidents he ends up not in royal hands, but the arms of a very ordinary boy.
Wrapped around the tale of Baggy's adventures is a superb side story but I won't spoil it for you, it's worth grabbing the book and leafing through yourself to see how much emotion and storytelling can be constructed around a fairly simple tale of a bear.
If you think you're all burned out on bear books, think again.
Charlotte's best bit: Seeing the princess's tonsils when she's screaming the castle down
Daddy's favourite bit: Some great expressive work by Inkpen for the human characters in the story.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Thursday, 27 January 2011
The Duck with No Luck
A clumsy, lazy unlikeable duck embarks on a quest to join his duck friends as they fly south for the winter. The Duck with No Luck is an unfortunate feathered friend and ends up getting completely and hopelessly lost as he asks his bird chums for directions in a variety of exotic locations.
The book's illustrations are ace, as is the cameo from Winnie the Witch's Wilbur (at least that was the only bit Charlotte liked) - but the book seems to dribble along with very little plot (yes it's a children's book but if your toddler starts to yawn and gets you to turn the pages quickly before you've even finished reading each one, you know something's wrong).
A pity as this was another Korky Paul Picture Book we hadn't seen up till now and could probably have got along fine without seeing, in all honesty.
Charlotte's best bit: Wilbur sneaking around the bins in one illustration
Daddy's favourite bit: Meagre pickings with this one but I did quite enjoy seeing The Dog Who Could Dig picking over bones with a vulture
Rating: 2 out of 5 (and 5 out of 5 for the pics)
Sanji and the Baker
Our quest to hoover up every Korky-Paul-Illustrated book on the planet continues, as this week we struck gold at the Library by grabbing one of the few Korky Paul Picture Books we haven't seen yet.
Sanji and the Baker is excellent, almost like a modern fable. Sanji the down-at-heel travelling adventurer takes up residence above a Baker's Shop. Every morning he wakes up to the delicious smells emanating from the Baker's wares.
The Baker takes great exception to this and brings Sanji up before a judge for stealing his smells.
The twist in the story at the end is superb. Even more superb is the fact that the book features a good dose of excellent Korky Paul cameos from various other books he's illustrated (yep, Winnie Witch is in the book as one of Sanji's generous friends).
A winning attention to detail, a great moral tale and a rather original setting. Brilliant book.
Charlotte's best bit: Winnie the Witch as a magical money lender
Daddy's favourite bit: Sanji's excellent steampunk smell-grabber
Rating: 5 out of 5
Richard & Judy-endorse new Kid's Book Club
Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan are extending their book recommendations to cover children's books, in a partnership with both WH Smith and The Book Trust.
The initial selection of books carries recommendations from contemporary titles, such as 'Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder' (highbrow stuff) as well as classics like Elisabeth Beresford's 'Wombles' books.
The aim is a good one - to make more and more parents aware of both the Book Trust, and a selection of new and established writers whose works are worthy of mention in the Richard and Judy 'list'.
As with the adult book recommendations, a team of individuals work in conjunction with the popular daytime TV presenters to ensure that recommended books meet exacting standards.
The adult scheme has seen many authors propelled into the best sellers list almost overnight. Anything that generates a huge amount of interest in reading and books can only be a good thing particularly when it's aimed at youngsters.
More information is available from the Book Trust website: http://www.booktrust.org.uk/Home
Wishmoley and the Little Piece of Sky
A bittersweet little story of a Mole's wonderment at what lies "up there" above the clods of earth. Wishmoley's trip to the outside world sees him bringing back "a little piece of sky" that turns out to be something completely different and unexpected.
Gorgeous illustrations accompany a tear-jerking tale of how important it is sometimes to come to terms with letting something go that you've nurtured and loved. Have a box of tissues handy.
Daddy's favourite bit: The rather sad but very sweet ending. Awww.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Gorilla
Labels:
Anthony Browne,
Gorilla,
Walker Books
The master of the surreal, Anthony Browne definitely has a thing about simians. Gorilla follows the story of a young girl who is obsessed with all things Gorilla-shaped. She dreams about Gorillas, draws Gorillas and decorates her room with Gorilla posters. Her father doesn't seem to have time for her or her Gorilla obsession so after a disapointing birthday present, the girl's flight of fancy takes her on a magical trip with a huge friendly ape.
As ever with Anthony Browne's books, it's not always the story or the main characters that keeps Charlotte entertained, it's all the little details that are going on in the background of each sumptuous illustration. Nods to King Kong, and plenty of fantastic Magritte-derivative work goes into each frame making this yet another winner for youngsters.
Charlotte's best bit: The Gorilla's big sloppy kiss.
Daddy's favourite bit: Great homages to Magritte's suited-and-booted surrealist works
Rating: 4 out of 5
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
The True Story of Goldilocks
How did Goldilocks end up breaking into the three bears' house, stealing porridge and wrecking beds? Before Goldilocks was naughty, she was a sweet and polite self-help guru. That's according to Sandro Natalini and Agnezzi Baruzzi's novel retelling of the classic fairy tale.
We find out that Baby Bear wasn't always a good little bear, Daddy Bear was a bit of a numpty really and Mummy Bear spent rather too much time researching beauty tips.
The book's illustrations have some excellent card-craft mechanisms to bring the pictures to life. Some younger readers might find some of the interactive papercraft a bit fiddly (and will probably wreck / lose the cool little letters that come with the book) but it's a great twist to the story and a great use of the characters.
Charlotte's best bit: The Big Bad Wolf appearing in Daddy Bear's newspaper
Daddy's favourite bit: Goldilocks the rough and ready rock chick
Rating: 4 out of 5
Mr Big
Labels:
Ed Vere,
Mr Big,
Puffin Children's Books
It's not easy being big. Mr Big, a huge hulking great big Gorilla might look scary and daunting but he's an ape with a heart, and a musical soul.
In this tale, Mr Big is sad, has no friends and only has his music to fall back on. Finding a piano in a music store, Mr Big plays at night, letting his soft tinkling tunes win over the entire city full of people who previously crossed the street to avoid him.
A great jazz-fuelled book with big bold illustrations. Cool stuff, crazy cat!
Charlotte's best bit: A fascination with Mr Big's feet (which look like hands)
Daddy's favourite bit: Mr Big's tiny beat-poet-styled best friend
Rating: 3 out of 5
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