Tim Warnes's Blog: My Life in Books
September 4, 2025
"Let's Go! haw êkwa!" - A Skateboarding Story About Finding Your Tribe
Let’s Go! haw êkwa! by Julie Flett(Greystone Kids, 2024)Good to Read for:Affirming anxious kidsCelebrating finding your tribeIts diverse representation Today’s Story Worth Sharing is unique in many ways. It’s by a favourite picture book maker of mine, Cree-Métis author and illustrator Julie Flett. As usual, Flett uses the opportunity to garnish her story by introducing readers to a little of her language and culture. Want to know more? haw êkwa! Let’s Go! haw êkwa! (Greystone Kids, 2024) is unique in many ways, the most obvious being that it’s a story about skateboarding that includes the Cree idiom haw êkwa! (pronounced how AYgwa), meaning “okay then!” Based on personal experience, Flett’s story opens with the narrator – a small boy with dark skin – admiring the skateboarders who pass by his window each day.
Cacussh! Cacussh! Cacussh!
Closer and then farther.
The boy scrambles into his clothes and heads to the park with his mother.
At the park, I imagine myself riding a skateboard on the path that winds like a river.
The flurry of pigeons and sequential drawings of the boy bring so much energy to this image. It’s a beautiful example of how illustrations can enhance the text and raise further questions: Is the boy imagining that he’s flying like a bird, as well as riding a skateboard? Is Flett explaining pictorally that this is how it feels to ride a skateboard - to be free, flying like a bird? It’s this kind of small detail that kids will often pick up on – so take the opportunities when they arise to talk around the stories you share.)
One morning, my mom brings home a bag from Grandma’s house.
Her skateboard from when she was my age!
haw êkwa! Let’s go!
The boy’s awkward first attempts will resonate with anyone who’s ever attempted to skateboard. He starts off kneeling, then sitting, and finally, standing on his board. He practices over and over – at the playground, in the empty basketball court and Auntie’s yard.
The day finally comes to brave the skateboard park.
But when we arrive, it’s like a waterfall of skateboarders crashing down. I’m not sure.
What a beautiful description, a waterfall of skateboarders. That should definitely become the proper collective noun! And such a powerful illustration. The boy stands to one side with his mum, clutching his deck and watching the skaters. It has so much energy and flow with the cropped characters zipping off the page. I love it!
The boy bides his time and finds a quiet spot to watch (with mum reassuringly close by).
Soon I’m not alone.
Two more wannabe skaters join him to watch the action. A trio of kindred spirits, united by a drive to skateboard and a fear of joining in. Isn’t this the kind of situation where so many friendships are formed? They ‘[watch] the pattern and pace’ long enough to muster the collective courage until finally – haw êkwa! Let’s go!
As the story unfolds, you realise that this is not simply a story about skateboarding. It’s an invitation to become part of something – a community, a friendship group, a tribe – bigger than yourself (Sometimes we skate down the street, like a little river, together.) And in doing so, we discover that things that makes us feel alive. That make us unique. Let’s Go! feels like a celebration of life itself.
Flett identifies as Métis-Cree, and her characters have dark skin. Maybe that’s why one review likened Flett’s illustrations to those of Ezra Jack Keats. Keats’ picture books – infamous for portraying African American families and their neighbourhoods – were favourites of mine as a young boy. Both illustrators feature panoramic, urban landscapes complete with gritty textures and chalk-scribbled sidewalks. Flett’s use of collage and patterned wallpaper is also reminiscent of Keats. Her illustration, depicting those first tentative attempts at skateboarding (with the boy shown multiple times against the same background) remind me of the scene where Peter is giddy from spinning in Keats’ Whistle for Willie. So I agree, there’s definitely a similarity.
Perhaps that’s why I find Flett’s work so comforting! It reminds me of a safe space from my childhood, the local library, where I would eagerly rifle through the picture books to find Peter and his dachshund, Willie.
Most significantly, both Keats and Flett portray BIPOC characters (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) in their picture books – not as representatives of social issues, but simply as kids being kids. Keats’ characters ‘lived in apartment buildings, played on city streets, and navigated urban environments that many young readers could recognise from their own lives.’ [Claude AI] Flett’s work builds on that legacy. In her earlier picture book, We All Play!/kimêtawânaw!, for example, she features a child with a malformed hand (inspired by watching Paralympians). In Let’s Go!, kids with a passion for skateboarding can see themselves reflected, as well as those from loving and supportive single-parent families (as highlighted by American Indians in Children’s Literature’s review). So it’s about more than just ethnicity.
As Flett explains in an interview with The Federation of Children’s Books Groups, “when [kids] see themselves in books, it opens worlds to them – and a sense of belonging. For kids to feel seen and heard and that they belong in all of their own unique ways is so important.”
Seasons pass, and the years – like the skateboarders – roll on by. With perseverance and practice, our protagonist finally masters his sport and earns his independence. By the end of Let’s Go! the young boy is a teenager. The story comes full circle, ending with his mom watching through the window as her son returns home –
Now, every day.
Cacussh. Cacussh. Cacussh.
Closer, closer, home.
In an end note, Flett shares her inspiration and explains some of the story’s themes. She signs off: “I hope you find all the different ways of expressing yourself uniquely in the world and with the communities you find along the way.”
The world of picture books is blessed by Flett. Her unique expression shows readers that despite differences in culture and heritage, kids have shared interests and experiences. The addition of native Cree language only adds an extra richness to her work that reminds readers: There’s a whole world out there, waiting to be discovered.
haw êkwa! Let’s go!
3 practical tips for sharing Let’s Go! haw êkwa! with your child Have fun with an interactive read-aloud! At the appropriate times, kids can call out, "Let's go! haw êkwa!" They can make the sound of the wheels on pavement: "cacussh, cacussh, cacussh." They can move their bodies as the skateboarders do in the illustrations. (Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature blog)
Practice the "haw êkwa!" mindset - When your child faces something scary or new, use the Cree phrase together as a courage-building ritual. Make it your family's way of saying, “we've got this, let's give it a try!”
Explore the "flying like birds" imagery - Ask your child what activities make them feel like they're flying. Use Flett's beautiful illustration of the boy running through the pigeons to talk about what makes them feel most alive. (Then ask yourself: What can I do to help them achieve their potential and fly?)
Let’s Go! haw êkwa! by Julie Flett(Greystone Kids, 2024)Good to Read for:Affirming anxious kidsCelebrating finding your tribeIts diverse representation Copyright © 2024 Julie Flett (Text & Illustrations)From LET’S GO! haw êkwa! by Julie Flett(Greystone Books)Illustration of Peter (‘When he stopped everything turned down’) © 1964 Ezra Jack Keats. From Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats Visit Julie Flett's website GOOD TO READBest diverse and inclusive picture books
Splash, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke & Lauren Tobia
What Happened to You? by James Catchpole & Karen George
Only You Can Be You! by Nathan & Sally Clarkson & Tim Warnes
So Much! by Trish Cooke & Helen Oxenbury
There’s a Tiger on the Train by Mariesa Dulak & Rebecca Cobb
Birdsong by Julie Flett
We All Play/kimêtawânaw by Julie Flett
I am the Subway by Kim Hyo-eun (translated by Deborah Smith)
Mr Scruff by Simon James
The Boy with Flowers in his Hair by Jarvis
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña & Christian Robinson
BUY THE BOOKPowered by Bookshop.orgSupporting independent bookshops
“exhilarating” “absolutely unique” BUY U.K. BUY U.S.A. * I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFF RELATED ARTICLES SOURCESLet’s Go! haw êkwa! by Julie Flett (Greystone Kids, 2024)Youth Services Book Review: Let’s Go! haw êkwa! by Julie Flett by susanh579 (April 11, 2024)Let’s Go by Julie Flett, The Federation of Children’s Book Groups blog (June 04, 2024) Highly Recommended: LET'S GO! haw êkwa! by Julie Flett , American Indians in Children’s Literature, (September 03, 2024)Let’s Go! Kirkus Reviews (March 23, 2024) Are you stuck for quality stories that you and your kids will enjoy? Sign up for recommendations and tips. SIGN UP HERE © 2025 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE
August 8, 2025
The Enduring Magic of Picture Books
This week, two handwritten notes reminded me why I do what I do.
The first arrived by mail – a carefully handwritten letter from ten-year-old ‘Z’ in South Dakota. She told me about her love for I Love You to the Moon and Back, and how she still treasures the book despite being “a little over the age range.”
Z asked about my hardest book to make and what my favourite book is, signing off with words that are music to my ears:
I love your books and your art. I hope you continue making books for kids so they can enjoy them as much as I did.
The second piece of paper I found while sorting through old keepsakes at my Mum’s – a note I’d written to my Dad decades ago, complete with a big love heart. Dad read to me every night, and those moments helped forge a connection that lasted his entire life. Even in his final years, when cognition was a challenge, we enjoyed reminiscing about Charlotte’s Web and Pooh.
I was touched that it’d been treasured all these years. With the two notes placed side by side, I see the beautiful circle that picture books – and storytime – create. Z’s letter embodies the very essence of what I strive to achieve as a picture book creator and storyteller, whilst my own childhood love letter served as a reminder of what (and who) helped me become a storyteller in the first place.
Throughout his long life, Dad fondly recalled the tradition of bedtime stories from his childhood, a tradition he passed on to us. These bedtime stories (coupled with frequent visits to the local library with Mum) not only nurtured a love for reading but also instilled a profound sense of being cherished and seen. The experience was about more than just stories—it was about being present and creating connection, and delivered a daily message that I was worth my father’s time and attention. Here he is as a grandfather, giving his all to The Cat in the Hat Comes Back with Noah (looking like it was way past bedtime!).
Now, through my books and recommendations, I have the privilege of helping other parents create those same sacred moments. When Z writes that she loves my books and art (“I know nothing is perfect but the art in your book is close”), I hear echoes of my own childhood wonder and appreciation of, for example, Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear and the Busy World of Richard Scarry. When parents or grandparents tell me my recommendations helped them find books that engaged their children, I see that circle completing itself again.
I shared this in my reply to Z:
When I was a little boy (a long time ago – I’m 54 now!) bedtime stories was my favourite part of the day. I loved snuggling up and listening to my dad, mostly, read stories. He always gave the characters different voices. My favourite ones from childhood include '“Are You My Mother?” by P.D. Eastman, Maurice Sendak’s “Nutshell Library” collection and the Beatrix Potter stories.
Picture books aren’t just entertainment. They’re conversation starters and memory makers. They’re the balm to a busy day, a pause to be present, a quiet moment of togetherness. They contain a kind of magic.
Every time a parent chooses to read with their child instead of scrolling their phone, every time they wonder over a beautiful illustration or discuss a character’s feelings, they’re nurturing their child and planting seeds. Seeds of literacy, yes, but also seeds of relationship—the kind that grow into a lifetime of connection.
“We have such great times reading DANGEROUS! It’s a every night before bed kind of deal! Abraços from Brazil!”— Eduardo Amoroso Parra @eduparrox
Z's letter reminds me that these seeds take root in ways we might never fully know. Kids in Brazil, as I discovered firsthand at the Bienal do Livro in Rio this summer, feel connected to me through my work, while their parents appreciate books like PERIGOSO!, which have the power to nurture their children and strengthen family bonds. My note to my daddy reminds me where my own seeds were planted, in those precious bedtime moments when he chose to give me his full attention. Happy times when he played the fool, acted the part, and gave me the gift of story.
The circle continues.
One book, one child, one bedtime story at a time.
My note to Dad is a testament to the enduring power of childhood stories and the deep connection they foster between the storyteller and the listener.
And as Z’s letter testifies, the magic of picture books is still working.
RELATED ARTICLES Are you stuck for quality stories that you and your kids will enjoy? Sign up for recommendations and tips. SIGN UP HERE © 2025 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE
August 1, 2025
‘Our Pebbles’: Finding Magic in Life's Simple Moments
Our Pebbles by Jarvis(Walker Books, 2025)Good to Read for:Celebrating intergenerational relationshipsEncouraging connection with natureGentle introduction to loss There is something childlike and charming about Jarvis's work that makes me feel comforted, something akin to receiving a warm hug. His latest picture book, Our Pebbles – a heartfelt portrayal of the relationship between a grandfather and his grandchild – builds on that sense of togetherness. Told from a child’s perspective (with suitably informal and chatty language, yet beautiful prose), Jarvis homes in on those simple things that children love best.
A handful of sweets.
Trains whooshing past; climbing over stiles.
A day at the seaside.
It left me feeling quietly nostalgic for my childhood and the time spent with my own kids.
Jarvis’s own childhood inspired Our Pebbles. He writes:
‘Our Pebbles’ is quite a gentle story, and that’s how I began, very softly, but then I decided that it shouldn’t feel wistful and sombre - it should feel joyful and exciting - so my grandad character reflected that too.
– Jarvis on Instagram @jarvispicturebooksGrandad’s joie de vivre, and his tender care towards his grandson, is inspiring. Our Pebbles is an unapologetic celebration of life’s simple pleasures; of enjoying someone else’s company while doing nothing. Days like this are easily overlooked, and this story is a sweet and joyful reminder that they are limited.
There's so much to spot in the illustrations, from butterflies and birds to squirrels and centipedes – and that's just along the path through Wonky Woods, where the boy ‘look[s] out for monsters and things like that.’
Grandad is ever present, holding his grandson’s hand and joining in with the fun, from waving at the trains to ‘chatting with the spotty dogs.’
And up and over the stile. Where Grandad always said,
“Careful you don’t hit your head on the sky.”
Silly old Grandad.
With his arm around the boy’s shoulders, Grandad shepherds the boy over the sand dunes that hide the sea.
“Will it be in? Will it be out?” – the sense of anticipation is great!
Finally, the two friends arrive at their favourite destination: Pebble Beach.
There’s plenty for kids to spot, starting with the train. And a lifebelt.
A lighthouse and sea groynes;
seagulls, and a jetty.
Grandad and the boy have a sword fight with ‘old pirate wood’ left behind by the sea.
They guess the name of a seal and eat ice cream.
(This moment reminded me of eating chips with my parents and kids on the beach at Lyme Regis. Grandad became increasingly irate with the clamouring squabble of gulls overhead. Eventually, he could bear it no longer. He dramatically shooed the birds away with a wild waving of his arms – and promptly threw his chips everywhere! We all laughed, and the seagulls had their fill. Silly old grandad.)
We went where footsteps didn't go.
Where crabs hide out.
Nobody knew the beach like us.
Then they perform their own, private tradition. They pick a pebble each, wash them clean in the sea and then ‘hold them tight all the way to our favourite place… The Jolly Dancer’, an old fishing boat hauled up on the shingle, where Grandad does ‘his funny dance with the wiggly knees.’
Sitting in the boat , ‘perfectly smushed together,’ they paint their pebbles with a memory of the day.
Jarvis gives us a seagull's eye view of the boat and its collection of pebbles. Each one tells a story. This is a lovely moment for kids to share their ideas about the meaning of the pebbles. And there’s plenty to choose from! For example: A day at the circus; finding a tiny crab; sharing bubble gum and a thunderstorm. Interpreting these visual clues is a fun way of strengthening children's visual literacy and storytelling skills.
In some picture books (for example, Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies or Granpa by John Burningham), the featured grandparent dies. Although Our Pebbles touches on grief and loss, Jarvis addresses it in a different way: Grandad moves away.
And I missed looking out for monsters.
And I missed chatting with the spotty dogs.
And I missed The Jolly Dancer.
But most of all… I missed Grandad.
Mam suggests a trip back to Pebble Beach. The child is empowered, leading the way with a smile up over the sand dunes and onto the shingle bank, where they pick out two stones.
And I held them tightly all the way to Grandad's new home.
‘Grandad and child continue their tradition despite their new circumstances’ [Kirkus]. They paint the pebbles together just like before, and the boy promises Grandad that he'll take them back to the Jolly Dancer. As Kirkus notes, Jarvis doesn’t explain why Grandad moves, ‘though a propped-up cane by the sofa suggests that he’s slowed down a bit in his old age.’ And whilst picture books about death are important and useful, the bittersweet way in which Jarvis approaches the boy’s present sadness and inevitable loss is subtle and a welcome change.
The story ends on the narrator visiting the collection of painted pebbles that lie in The Jolly Dancer.
I look at each one and remember the days.
Our days at Pebble Beach.
Just silly old Grandad and me.
As Jarvis said in a recent interview, “Finding the small moments that can signify something larger is what I often find interesting. Sometimes, a story about giving a pebble to somebody you love is still a big adventure.”
Watch Jarvis read "Our Pebbles" here 3 practical tips for sharing Picture Book with your childCreate your own memory pebbles
Take your children on a nature walk or beach visit to collect smooth stones. Back home, let them paint or decorate the pebbles to represent special memories you've shared together. Start a family collection in a special jar or box, adding a new pebble after each memorable outing. This creates a tangible way for children to understand how ordinary moments become treasured
Decode the pebble collection
Use the illustrations showing Grandad and the boy's painted pebbles as a storytelling prompt, asking your child to guess what memory it represents. Then encourage them to create their own stories: "What do you think happened on circus day? How did they find that tiny crab?" This builds visual literacy skills while sparking imagination.
Go on a treasure hunt!
Turn any walk into a treasure hunt by looking for the wildlife Jarvis includes throughout the journey - for example, butterflies, birds, squirrels, centipedes and spotty dogs! Create a visual checklist where children can draw or tick off what they spot.
Our Pebbles by Jarvis(Walker Books, 2025)Good to Read for:Celebrating intergenerational relationshipsEncouraging connection with natureGentle introduction to loss Copyright © 2025 Jarvis (Text & Illustrations)From OUR PEBBLES by JarvisReproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd, London, SE11 5HJ Find more of my favourite seaside-themed picture books using the button below GET MORE SEASIDE STORY RECOMMENDATIONS BUY THE BOOKPowered by Bookshop.orgSupporting independent bookshops
“Family bonding at its sweetest.”– Kirkus
“as comforting as holding a warm, smooth pebble in your hand.”– LoveReading4Kids
BUY U.K. BUY U.S.A. * I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFF RELATED ARTICLES SOURCESOur Pebbles by Jarvis (Walker Books 2025)Jarvis on Instagram: @jarvispicturebooks, June 17th 2025Our Pebbles review, Kirkus Reviews, June 10th 2025 Author-Illustrator Jarvis on Finding Colorful Memories in the Everyday by Cara Broel. Bookstr, June 5th, 2025 Are you stuck for quality stories that you and your kids will enjoy? Sign up for recommendations and tips. SIGN UP HERE © 2025 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICEJuly 31, 2025
The best picture books about the seaside
Illustration from
Sally and the Limpet
by Simon James (Walker Books) © Simon James Good to Read for:creating memoriesbuilding family traditionsadding to the excitement of a trip to the beach School’s out for summer, and many kids have the exciting anticipation of sandy toes, ice cream cones, and a trip to the seaside. Whether you’re planning an epic beach adventure or dreaming of seaside escapes from your living room, there’s something magical about stories that capture the wonder of waves, rockpools, and salty air.
A day spent at the beach becomes more than just sand and sea when you head home to share your memories over tales of seaside adventures and curious crabs. With the right books, even a rainy afternoon indoors can be salted with seaside magic that conjures ocean breezes. To help you find the best, I’m sharing some of my favourites that celebrate everything I love about the seaside.
Illustration from
Tip Tap went the Crab
by Tim Hopgood (Macmillan) © Tim Hopgood From gentle stories perfect for little ones who might be nervous about their first beach trip (), to rambunctious tales about the journey there (), these books are treasures waiting to be discovered. There are stories to spark children’s imaginations about what lies beneath the waves (Flotsam, ) and daring adventures over them (The Elephant and the Sea).
My recommendations explore the seaside through different seasons and cultures, expanding our view beyond the typical summer beach day to include stormy winter shores (The Storm Whale), coastal communities (), and even far-flung tropical shores ()
Illustration from
Splash, Anna Hibiscus!
by Atinuke & Lauren Tobia (Walker Books) © Lauren Tobia Ready to explore?Click on the links below to discover more about my favourite picture books about the seaside! GOOD TO READBest picture books about the seaside(Click on titles to see full review)Splash, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke & Lauren Tobia
Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins
The Storm Whale by Benji Davies
The Storm Whale in Winter by Benji Davies
There’s a Tiger on the Train by Mariesa Dulak & Rebecca Cobb
Don’t Worry Little Crab by Chris Haughton
The Little Boat by Kathy Henderson & Patrick Benson
Tip Tap went the Crab by Tim Hopgood
Sally and the Limpet by Simon James
Our Pebbles by Jarvis
Town is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz & Sydney Smith
The Sea Tiger by Victoria Turnbull
The Elephant and the Sea by Ed Vere
Flotsam by David Weisner
Illustration from
There’s a Tiger on the Train!
(Faber Children’s Books) © Rebecca Cobb BUY THE BOOKSPowered by Bookshop.orgSupporting independent bookshops* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFF BUY U.S. BUY U.K. Don’t forget!You can borrow (and order-in) books from your local public library.
You can buy second hand to save money. Try World of Books, who pay a share back to the creators!
RELATED ARTICLES
Find more in-depth reviews of the other recommended titles here.
THE BEST SEASIDE-THEMED PICTURE BOOKS Are you stuck for quality stories that you and your kids will enjoy? Sign up for your free weekly email with story recommendations and tips. SIGN UP HERESOURCES
Illustration from Sally and the Limpet by Simon James (Walker Books) © Simon JamesIllustration from Splash, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke & Lauren Tobia (Walker Books) © Lauren TobiaIllustration from Tip Tap went the Crab by Tim Hopgood (Macmillan) © Tim HopgoodIllustration from There’s a Tiger on the Train by Mariesa Dulak & Rebecca Cobb (Faber Children’s Books) © Rebecca Cobb © 2025 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICEMay 29, 2025
How ‘Scary’ Picture Books like “DANGEROUS!” Strengthen Bonds With Your Child
DANGEROUS! by Tim Warnes(Little Tiger Press, 2014)Good to Read for:Learning about crocodiles and alligatorsValidating children’s emotionsDramatic storytimes! Teacher Vanessa messaged me from Rio De Janeiro this week with a question from Class 1B: “Is the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing – a coisa escamosa (literally, the scaly thing) – an alligator or a crocodile?”It’s a great question and something I’ve wondered myself!
To be honest, when I was creating the illustrations, I didn’t give it much thought. As a result, the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing is a bit of a mash-up (in more ways than one, as you’ll see further on). It has an alligator's broad snout combined with a crocodile's distinctive 'up and down' tooth arrangement. (When alligators’ mouths are closed, only the upper teeth are visible, which looks less fearsome and not as visually pleasing.)
Its sharp-looking toes are distinctly separate like a crocodile’s (whereas alligators have webbed feet). Yet the story is set around freshwater, somewhere in a forest, which suggests an alligator, since crocodiles prefer brackish and saltwater.
In other words, the jury is out!
(I recorded an explanation for Class 1B which you can see here!)
Something else influenced my design for the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing.
Just look at those great big googly eyes and how it gobbles up all those labels (much to Mole’s annoyance).
Yum yum yum!
Remind you of anyone?
How about Cookie Monster?
I don’t recall it being a deliberate choice. But I do know I was watching a lot of Sesame Street at the time, since I was using puppets and writing skits for my kids’ work at church. Looking back at the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing now, the influence is most apparent.
In his book Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon encourages artists to remix, mash up and build upon the ideas of others. ‘You are a mash-up of what you choose to let into your life,’ Kleon writes. ‘You are the sum of your influence. The German writer Goethe said, “We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”’
And I LOVE Cookie Monster!
Like Cookie Monster, the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing is impulsive and uncontrolled – exactly how young children naturally behave around things they love! This glorious inhibition creates instant recognition. When kids see the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing’s over-the-top excitement, they feel a connection. This is how I feel inside! And suddenly, their intense emotions feel normal and completely acceptable. The characters represent children’s desire for immediate gratification – without consequences or guilt. While children are learning self-control and delayed gratification, these characters show them a world where you can have what you want when you want it, which is both thrilling and comforting. (They can also see, from Mole’s reaction, the potential consequence of such unbridled joy!)
Unlike Cookie Monster, the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing also represents potential threat. In this instance, young kids identify with Mole. Will he get eaten and caught in those enormous jaws?
The Lumpy-Bumpy Thing licked its long, scaly lips, flashed its snippy-snappy teeth and…
Many other great picture books (for example, Mina by Matthew Forsythe) add a frisson of danger and excitement to storytime by tapping into children’s primal fear – that Something out there is going to gobble them up. As you hold your child close during storytime, you're providing both physical and emotional safety. Your presence reassures them that even though the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing seems dangerous, everything is actually okay. Facing fears within the safe confines of storytime (via another character, such as Mole) is a healthy part of child development, as Ellen Handler Spitz explains in Inside Picture Books:
‘[The adult reader] can provide a psychological embrace as well as a physical one. The adult’s presence produces a sense of safety, and this feeling of security is of paramount importance because, in the years when picture books are used, representations are not yet fully distinguished from the objects they represent.’
– Ellen Handler Spitz, Inside Picture BooksTo a child, Handler Spitz explains, something threatening in a picture book may seem capable of clambering out of the pages and devouring the reader. Or haunting their dreams. And we don’t want that, now do we?
So it’s no wonder that many picture books portray crocodilians as gentle and often funny and goofy. (I’ve listed my favourites below.) Despite their sharp teeth and claws, characters like Mo Willems’ Alligator and Emma Chichester Clark’s Croc (from her Melrose and Croc series) are not in the least bit threatening. These potentially dangerous characters help children process complex emotions about things that seem scary but might actually turn out to be harmless. They subvert expectations and encourage children to look beyond mere appearance.
This idea – Don’t judge a book by its cover – was the driving force behind DANGEROUS! As Kids’ Book Review notes, the story teaches young kids ‘that things aren't always what they seem, and that pre-emptively ‘labelling’ or judging things can sometimes lead to missing out on opportunity.’ As Melrose and Mole both discover, what you first perceive as a menacing, lumpy-bumpy threat might someday become your best friend!
Perhaps Brazilian kids have taken so well to these books because of their native caimans – or jacaré . Either way, I’m so grateful to parents like Eduardo Amoroso Parra (@eduparrox) who messaged:
"We have such great times reading DANGEROUS! It's a every night before bed kind of deal! Abraços from Brazil!"
And let’s not forget the hard-working educators all around the world who share my stories, as Vanessa did with Class 1B. I will have the pleasure of meeting some of them next month in Rio. All thanks to ‘Bob’ (Mole) y uma coisa escamosa!
3 practical tips for sharing Picture Book with your childEmbrace your inner child! Go on – I dare you! Have fun playing around with character voices and acting out the joyfully goofy behaviour of the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing, affirming children that uninhibited expressions of joy are acceptable!
Don’t be in a rush to get through the book – let the page turns naturally build tension and create suspense. Take a moment to pause and ask your child what they think might happen next.
After reading, talk about how first impressions can be wrong. Discuss not judging others by appearance and being open to unexpected friendships.
DANGEROUS! by Tim Warnes(Little Tiger Press, 2014)Good to Read for:Learning about crocodiles and alligatorsValidating children’s emotionsDramatic storytimes! Copyright © 2014 Tim Warnes (Text & Illustrations)From DANGEROUS! by Tim Warnes(Little Tiger Press)Melrose and Croc, from Melrose and Croc by Emma Chichester Clark (Tommy Nelson 2019)Customer image courtesy @album.isac | Used by permission GOOD TO READBest picture books featuring lumpy-bumpy things
Guji-Guji by Chih-Yuan Chen
Melrose and Croc by Emma Chichester Clark
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
Ellie’s Dragon by Bob Graham
How to Light Your Dragon by Didier Lévy & Fred Benaglia
The Crocodile Who Didn’t Like Water by Gemma Merino
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber
Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator! by Mo Willems
DANGEROUS! by Tim Warnes
WARNING! by Tim Warnes
Professional Crocodile by Giovanna Zoboli & Mariachiara Di Giorgio
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“perfectly portrays the trials and tribulations of friendship”
May 23, 2025
Help your child express their feelings with “The Colour Monster”
The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas(Templar, 2016)Good to Read for:Helping your child discuss their feelingsAffirming your childInspiring creativity Learning to articulate our emotions is a skill that needs constant honing and may take a lifetime to perfect. Young children, in particular, may not have the words to describe how they’re feeling (which is why they end up having tantrums).
Mental Health Foundation says ‘one of the most important ways parents or guardians can help [in supporting good mental health] is by listening to their children and taking their feelings seriously.’ This is where picture books come into their own, as they offer a safe way to explore complex emotions and a safe place – without distractions – to discuss the day’s events and help children find ways - and words - to express how they feel.
My Story Worth Sharing this week is a fantastic example of a picture book that does just that - in a gentle and entertaining way.
Meet the Colour Monster!
The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas (Templar 2016) is described by Book Trust as ‘[d]eceptively simple, surprisingly powerful and satisfyingly reassuring’. A book about feelings (and colours) it features a friendly, fuzzy monster. You know, the kind you’d find inhabiting Sesame Street. (Come to think of it, he does resemble Oscar the Grouch with that big, animated monobrow!)
Llenas’s art is so expressive - childlike in its simplicity and sheer exuberance, with intensely scribbled crayon marks and wild brush strokes. It’s a joy to behold!
Her story begins with the introduction of the Colour Monster (we turn the page and discover the narrator’s a little girl):
This is my friend the colour monster.
Today he’s all mixed up and very confused.
He doesn’t know why.
(His shaggy fur is a rainbow of red, yellow, green and blue.)
Look at you, you’re all over the place!
That’s because the monster’s ‘feelings are all stirred together’ - so his colours are too.
The girl then proceeds to help Colour Monster sort himself out. She names and describes how the emotions might feel, then divides them by colour, putting each into a separate jar.
Such a beautiful idea!
This is happiness.
It shines yellow like the sun and twinkles like the stars.
You feel bright and light. You laugh, you jump, you dance! You want to share that feeling with everyone.
So often, children are taught that negative emotions are wrong (or denied and brushed aside).
Stop crying.
Pull yourself together.
Calm down!
In a very visual way, the colour monster expresses emotions that we often pretend - even to ourselves - we don’t have.
Abject fear.
Sorrow.
Out and out, RAGE!
The strength of The Colour Monster is that Llenas doesn’t pass judgment on whether they are good or bad.
They just are.
This is anger.
It blazes red like fire.
Anger can make you want to stomp…
…and Rooooooaaaaaaarrr!
and shout, ‘It’s not fair!’
What’s lovely about this book is how it can spark discussion about feelings – and affirm children that it’s okay to feel (and think) differently from the next person. I first blogged about this book during the COVID lockdown in 2020 when my nephew, Isaac, was seven years old. Isaac is autistic - and he used to describe feelings as colours. We don’t all think the same - and might disagree with the colour associations presented in the story! For example, Llenas presents blue as sadness, ‘gentle like a rainy day’, whereas for Isaac, blue was his Happy Colour!
Similarly, Isaac sometimes considered red a ‘grumpy’ colour (‘because it’s as hot as the sun!’). But sometimes, red was his second Happy Colour, making him think of kisses.
Here’s Isaac associating feelings and colours:
“My Happy Colour is blue. ... It makes me feel [like I’m] flying in the sky like a bird and swimming a long way in the water.
Orange makes me feel calm, very calm, I mean, because it’s an inviting colour to me.
Yellow makes me feel happy, summery and smiley.
Green is my favourite colour. It makes me delightful! It’s a really comfortable colour to me. I love green plates as well. And black makes me feel as [if] I’m in the dark.”
- Isaac, aged 7A first-grade teacher explains why being able to discuss our emotions is so important:
Learning about feelings and emotions is part of developing positive self-esteem and better relationships with others. As a child’s emotional intelligence grows, they are increasingly able to use their emotional information to guide their own thinking and behaviour; in other words, to calm themselves down.
- Grade Onederful blogThe teacher goes on to explain that children who can name and understand their feelings can better handle the ups and downs of childhood. They are more confident and display a maturity that their peers lack.
So it was no surprise to read that The Colour Monster’s creator, Anna Llenas, cites her art psychotherapy training as an influence. Llenas ‘currently acts as a teacher and art therapist specialising in art and emotional education.’ Her experience in these fields shines through her work, making The Colour Monster a valuable addition to any bookshelf.
Kids will also find The Colour Monster creatively inspiring. I know I do! The cover art first attracted me to it: the charming monster sits peacefully blowing a series of coloured button-like bubbles. Llenas’ art stands out for her confident use of collage. Often with thick bits of card (they look like pieces of old cardboard boxes) which cast pleasing, soft shadows onto the backgrounds. It almost feels like you could pick the bits up from off the page!
Look, kids! it shouts. You can make some awesome art using things from around the house.
Colour some old bits of card, cut out some shapes, piece them together and see what you can create. (Interestingly, this is very similar to the way that Chris Haughton develops his art for books like A Bit Lost and Shh! We have a Plan.)
The Colour Monster concludes with a new colour.
‘You look different, Colour Monster! Er…how do you feel now?’
Radiating hearts, coloured with shades of pink and smiling from ear to ear - the illustration says it all!
3 practical tips for sharing The Colour Monster with your childAs you read, take time to pause on each emotion. Ask open-ended questions to help your child begin to recognise and articulate their emotions. For example:
“Have you ever felt this way?”
“What colour would you choose for that feeling?”
After reading, encourage your child to draw their own "feeling monsters”, or follow the book’s lead and create some feelings jars.
Use The Colour Monster as a reference during emotional moments.
Saying things like, “Are your colours all mixed up today?” or “Which jar do you think this feeling belongs in?” gives children a visual, non-judgmental way to express how they feel (especially when words are hard to find).
Books about feelings
Big Rabbit’s Bad Mood by Ramona Badescu & Delphine Durand
Goodbye Bear by Jane Chapman
Penguin by Polly Dunbar
Weasel Is Worried by Ciara Gavin & Tim Warnes
Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton
The Boy with Flowers in His Hair by Jarvis
The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas
Angry Arthur by Hiawyn Oram & Satoshi Kitamura
I’M ANGRY by Michael Rosen & Robert Starling
My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss & Steve Johnson,Lou Fancher
How Selfish! by Clare Welsh & Olivier Tallec
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“fabulous artwork”– Kirkus Reviews
- GeekMom
BUY U.K. BUY U.S.A. * I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFF RELATED ARTICLES SOURCESThe Colour Monster by Anna Llenas (Templar 2016) - Used by permissionThe Colour Monster review - BookTrustFeelings Are Important: The Color Monster Book Review and Activities (GradeOnederful)Mental Health Foundation: Children and Young People Are you stuck for quality stories that you and your kids will enjoy? Sign up for recommendations and tips. SIGN UP HERE A version of this article was originally published 2020.© 2020, 2025 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICEFebruary 25, 2025
Spark your child's wonder and imagination with "The Something"
The Something by Rebecca Cobb(Macmillan, 2014)Good to Read for:Developing curiosity about the worldEncouraging imaginationDiversifying your child’s bookshelf I loved being in nature as a kid, and I spent much time speculating about what might be hiding down the holes I found while exploring. I still speculate about holes in the ground!I got it from my dad, who encouraged my interest in the natural world. Occasionally, we’d come across a molehill. Without fail, my dad would get on his hands and knees, dig into the mound of soil to find the mole’s tunnel and have a good rummage around. I always wondered if (and hoped) he might pull out an actual mole!
So when I spotted the cover of The Something by Rebecca Cobb, showing a child peering intently into a hole in the grass, I was immediately hooked! I wanted to know what ‘the Something’ was that lived in the hole. And what about all those other creatures – a dragon, a badger, a blue-faced ‘Something’ – stood behind the inquisitive child? My curiosity was sparked!
‘Cobb celebrates the power of imagination in this treat of a book’, says The Bookseller. Not only does Cobb celebrate it – she ignites it! Written in the first person from the point of view of the child (they’re not assigned a gender, but for ease, I shall refer to them as ‘he’), Cobb captures the spirit of childhood in both the simplicity of her language and charming illustrations.
The story begins with the pictures at the start of the book: the kid is playing a game of fetch with his dog in the garden when - uh-oh – their ball bounces down a hole and disappears.
Underneath the cherry tree in our garden is a little hole. We found it one day when I bounced my ball and it didn’t bounce back.
The premise is simple but enough to draw in the reader and invite our curiosity. (Incidentally, Cobb uses the cherry tree to show the passing seasons, illustrating the first spring shoots, its blossom, the cherries and finally, falling autumn leaves. It’s a clever touch that adds interest – and another discussion point - to her story.) The idea, explains Cobb, comes from childhood:
“When I was little, I found a hole in the ground outside. It looked like the sort of hole that an animal had made, so I was sure that it had something living in it. I waited and waited for a long time to see if anything would come out. After a while, I got hungry and went to get some mini cheddars. I had decided by now that there was most likely a mouse in the hole and a mouse would probably like mini cheddars - so I posted one down there for it to eat.”
– Love My Books interview with Rebecca Cobb‘Mum says the hole might be a doorway into a little mouse’s house’ signals the first of several cut-away illustrations (where the page is divided between above and below ground in the kind of cross-section that kids love): a spiral staircase leads below ground from the hole to a scene of devastation – the ball has smashed into the mice’s dining room. Or has it? Everyone seems to have a different opinion.
Dad thinks the hole is full of frogs (now the cut-away shows a sizeable underground chamber of frogs playing with the lost, red ball). Could that be what’s going on down there? Or perhaps it’s a troll. Or a chill fox in sunglasses, listening to vinyl!
‘[M]y best friend says it is definitely a dragon’s den. He knows this because he has a dragon living in his garden.’
Each idea is humorously portrayed by Cobb in an appealing cross-section, showing life above - and below - ground.
I shared this story with my seven-year-old niece, Kira. Pausing at the cover, I asked what she thought might live in the hole. Without hesitation, she replied a mole –which is what the grandma in the story thinks, too. (When we got to that illustration, Kira noticed that the mole is knitting and a badger has a newspaper – just like the grandparents sat under the cherry tree in their deck chairs. And there's that missing ball, on the mole's pile of yarn.)
The clever thing about the story is we are left hanging. Our question - What is the Something that lurks down the hole? – remains unanswered. It is up to the reader to decide. The final spreads depict the boy getting ready for bed. He sits at his window sill, hoping to spot the Something pop out of the hole. The final illustration shows him asleep. Outside, all the characters in the story get together to play with the lost ball. Kira played right into Cobb’s hands and wondered if they were real – or was it just a dream?
With its depiction of different skin tones, a wheelchair user and a child wearing spectacles, The Something effortlessly helps diversify your child’s reading. But it’s the way the idea got under my skin and niggled away that really impressed me. Cobb’s open story loop left me speculating for days after reading it! Open-ended stories like this are incredibly empowering for young children, who are frequently told that there are right and wrong answers. And sometimes there are. But sometimes, we can conjure up our own answers and let our imaginations run wild! It's a playful way to tell your child that their thoughts are valid.
Back to the real-life hole that inspired Cobb to write the story. Did she ever find out what was down the hole in her childhood garden?
“Almost at once, the mini cheddar was pushed back out of the hole by a frog! I have never forgotten my shock and surprise, and it taught me that you never know what might be living underground. Even today, I am still filled with curiosity whenever I see a hole like that in the earth that might have something down it.”
Love My Books interview with Rebecca Cobb
Tips for sharing The SomethingThis is an excellent story for sparking conversation: ask your child who – or what – they think might be living underground.
Ask your child to draw a picture of the underground scene. Grab some sticky tape and paper to create a simple lift-the-flap picture to reveal the hidden inhabitants.
Children will enjoy spotting the missing red ball (a fun way to develop their visual literacy). Extend the game by choosing a ball or some other toy to hide and take turns to find it.
The Something by Rebecca Cobb(Macmillan, 2014)Good to Read for:Developing curiosity about the worldEncouraging imaginationDiversifying your child’s bookshelf Copyright © 2014 Rebecca Cobb (Text & Illustrations)From THE SOMETHING by Rebecca Cobb(Macmillan Children’s Books) VISIT REBECCA COBB'S WEBSITE GOOD TO READ10 great picture books to spark curiosity and wonder
Beegu by Alexis Deacon
We All Play / kimêtawânaw by by Julie Flett
How the Sun Got to Coco’s House by Bob Graham
Bear and Wolf by Daniel Salmieri
There Is a Tribe of Kids by Lane Smith
The Hidden World of Gnomes by Lauren Soloy
The Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer & Mariachiara Di Giorgio
The Sea Tiger by Victoria Turnbull
DANGEROUS! by Tim Warnes
Poles Apart by Jeanne Willis & Jarvis
BUY THE BOOKPowered by Bookshop.orgSupporting independent bookshops
“we’ve read it over and over”“curious and fun”
- Christopher Francis, Goodreads
BUY U.K.Currently unavailable on Bookshop USA
* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THIS LINK #AD/AFF RELATED ARTICLES SOURCESThe Something by Rebecca Cobb (Macmillan, 2014)The Something on Panmacmillan.comLove My Books interview with Rebecca Cobb Are you stuck for quality stories that you and your kids will enjoy? Sign up for recommendations and tips. SIGN UP HERE © 2025 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICEFebruary 19, 2025
Spark your child’s wonder and curiosity: “The Something” by Rebecca Cobb
The Something by Rebecca Cobb(Macmillan, 2014)Good to Read for:Developing curiosity about the worldEncouraging imaginationDiversifying your child’s bookshelf I loved being in nature as a kid, and I spent much time speculating about what might be hiding down the holes I found while exploring. I still speculate about holes in the ground. I got it from my dad, who encouraged my interest in the natural world. Occasionally, we’d come across a molehill. Without fail, my dad would get on his hands and knees, dig into the mound of soil to find the mole’s tunnel and have a good rummage around. I always wondered if (and hoped) he might pull out an actual mole!
So when I spotted the cover of The Something by Rebecca Cobb, showing a child peering intently into a hole in the grass, I was immediately hooked! I wanted to know what the Something was that lived in the hole. And what about all those other creatures – a dragon, a badger, a blue-faced Something – stood behind the inquisitive child? My curiosity was sparked!
‘Cobb celebrates the power of imagination in this treat of a book’, says The Bookseller. Not only does Cobb celebrate it – she ignites it! Written in the first person from the point of view of the child (they’re not assigned a gender, but for ease, I shall refer to them as ‘he’), Cobb captures the spirit of childhood in both the simplicity of her language and charming illustrations.
The story begins with the pictures at the start of the book: the kid is playing a game of fetch with his dog in the garden when - uh-oh – their ball bounces down a hole and disappears.
Underneath the cherry tree in our garden is a little hole. We found it one day when I bounced my ball and it didn’t bounce back.
The premise is simple but enough to draw in the reader and invite our curiosity. The idea, explains Cobb, comes from childhood:
“When I was little, I found a hole in the ground outside. It looked like the sort of hole that an animal had made, so I was sure that it had something living in it. I waited and waited for a long time to see if anything would come out. After a while, I got hungry and went to get some mini cheddars. I had decided by now that there was most likely a mouse in the hole and a mouse would probably like mini cheddars - so I posted one down there for it to eat.”
– Love My Books interview with Rebecca Cobb‘Mum says the hole might be a doorway into a little mouse’s house’ signals the first of several cut-away illustrations (where the page is divided between above and below ground in the kind of cross-section that kids love): a spiral staircase leads below ground from the hole to a scene of devastation – the ball has smashed into the mice’s dining room. Or has it? Everyone seems to have a different opinion.
Dad thinks the hole is full of frogs (now the cut-away shows a sizeable underground chamber of frogs playing with the lost, red ball). Could that be what’s going on down there? Or perhaps it’s a troll. Or a chill fox in sunglasses, listening to vinyl!
‘[M]y best friend says it is definitely a dragon’s den. He knows this because he has a dragon living in his garden.’
Everyone has a different idea, and each is humorously portrayed by Cobb in an appealing cross-section, showing life above – and below ground.
I shared this story with my seven-year-old niece, Kira. Pausing at the cover, I asked what she thought might live in the hole. Without hesitation, she replied a mole –which is what the grandma in the story thinks, too. (When we got to that illustration, Kira noticed that the mole is knitting and a badger has a newspaper – just like the grandparents sat under the cherry tree in their deck chairs. And there’s that missing red ball, amongst the mole’s yarn.)
The clever thing about the story is we are left hanging. Our question - What is the Something that lurks down the hole? – remains unanswered. It is up to the reader to decide. The final spreads depict the boy getting ready for bed. He sits at his window sill, hoping to spot the Something pop out of the hole. The final illustration shows him asleep. Outside, all the characters in the story get together to play with the lost ball. Kira played right into Cobb’s hands and wondered if they were real – or was it just a dream?
With its depiction of different skin tones, a wheelchair user and a child wearing spectacles, The Something effortlessly helps diversify your child’s reading. (Incidentally, Cobb uses the cherry tree to show the passing seasons, illustrating the first spring shoots, its blossom, the cherries and finally, falling autumn leaves. It’s a clever touch that adds interest – and another discussion point - to her story.) But it’s the way the idea got under my skin and niggled away that really impressed me. Cobb’s open story loop left me speculating for days after reading it! Open-ended stories like this are incredibly empowering for young children, who are frequently told that there are right and wrong answers. And sometimes there are. But sometimes, we can conjure up our own answers and let our imaginations run wild! It's a playful way to tell your child that their thoughts are valid.
Back to the real-life hole that inspired Cobb to write the story. Did she ever find out what was down the hole in her childhood garden?
“Almost at once, the mini cheddar was pushed back out of the hole by a frog! I have never forgotten my shock and surprise, and it taught me that you never know what might be living underground. Even today, I am still filled with curiosity whenever I see a hole like that in the earth that might have something down it.”
Love My Books interview with Rebecca Cobb Tips for sharing The SomethingThis is an excellent story for sparking conversation: ask your child who – or what – they think might be living underground.
Draw pictures together of what could be happening underground. Grab some sticky tape and paper to create a simple lift-the-flap picture to reveal the hidden inhabitants.
Children will enjoy spotting the missing red ball (a fun way to develop their visual literacy). Extend the game by choosing a ball or some other toy to hide and take turns to find it.
The Something by Rebecca Cobb(Macmillan, 2014)Good to Read for:Developing curiosity about the worldEncouraging imaginationDiversifying your child’s bookshelf Copyright © 2014 Rebecca Cobb (Text & Illustrations)From THE SOMETHING by Rebecca Cobb(Macmillan Children’s Books) VISIT REBECCA COBB'S WEBSITE GOOD TO READMore great picture books to spark curiosity and wonder
Beegu by Alexis Deacon
We All Play / kimêtawânaw by by Julie Flett
How the Sun Got to Coco’s House by Bob Graham
Bear and Wolf by Daniel Salmieri
There Is a Tribe of Kids by Lane Smith
The Hidden World of Gnomes by Lauren Soloy
The Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer & Mariachiara Di Giorgio
The Sea Tiger by Victoria Turnbull
DANGEROUS! By Tim Warnes
Poles Apart by Jeanne Willis & Jarvis
BUY THE BOOKPowered by Bookshop.orgSupporting independent bookshops “we’ve read it over and over”“curious and fun”
- Christopher Francis, Goodreads
BUY U.K.Currently unavailable on Bookshop USA
* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THIS LINK #AD/AFF RELATED ARTICLES SOURCESThe Something by Rebecca Cobb (Macmillan, 2014)The Something on Panmacmillan.comLove My Books interview with Rebecca Cobb Are you stuck for quality stories that you and your kids will enjoy? Sign up for recommendations and tips. SIGN UP HERE © 2025 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICENovember 1, 2024
‘The Farmer and the Clown’: a wordless wonder
The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee(Beach Lane Books, 2014)Good to Read for:Developing storytelling skillsTeaching empathyCreating calm and quiet I’ve been developing a story around a little rat for years now. Thankfully, things have moved forward in recent months. I’m currently working alongside a publisher whose editor sees it as a wordless picture book. It makes sense - the thumbnails and sketches accompanying the text that I pitched conveyed all its emotion (and more).
It seems like an excellent reason to immerse myself in some wordless picture books, including the wonderful The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee (Beach Lane Books, 2014). In it, a farmer rescues a baby clown who bounces off the circus train. (An intriguing concept that reminded me of the song, Sarah Jane And The Iron Mountain Baby, by Steve Martin & Edie Brickell.)
If you think wordless picture books aren’t really stories, think again. I’ve highlighted some wordless picture books on this blog before (Hike, The Snowman, The Midnight Fair and Fox’s Garden), and they are all easy for children to follow. That’s not to say they are dull or straightforward. Their stories are nuanced and open to interpretation, yet remain accessible to kids.
“[Children] are really so visually literate,” asserts Frazee in one interview. “They can read pictures better than people who do read words because that’s how they get their information. …[T]hey see everything and they follow stories well beyond their capacity to read the meaning.”
Children can read – or at least infer – what is happening in the images. Once they’ve looked at and ‘read’ the pictures, the child’s storytelling skills come into play as they decide how to interpret what they see, a creative act that’s a huge boost to their self-esteem, especialy if they struggle with words. (And, as is likely with The Farmer and the Clown, readers will likely go back and reinterpret the story once they have a deeper understanding.)
The Farmer and the Clown begins at the break of dawn with the Amish-like farmer heading out into the fields to pitch hay (in a sepia-toned landscape that lends the book (along with the steam train and the farmer’s humble life) a timeless feel). As the farmer pauses to watch a passing circus train, it hits a bump, and something is flung from the back. He investigates and discovers a baby clown grinning from ear to ear.
In a series of vignettes, the baby clown fools around as all clowns do before hugging the tall (and grumpy-looking) farmer around his legs. Then they walk hand in hand back to the farmer’s home. It’s an intriguing juxtaposition, ‘a character collision done incredibly well. The effect is stunning and emotional’ – especially on re-reading the story when it dawns on you: the clown is miming falling from the train and is distraught and in need of a helping hand.
That image of the ‘Amish-like farmer holding the hand of a very smiley baby clown’ is where it started, recalls Frazee in her interview with The Horn Book. In the interview, she shares her inspiration for the characters and the process of developing their story:
‘And I thought, 'There they are. Those are my characters.' Then it was a question of why are they together? What is the story that brought them together? It came from the fact that they both had such different personas, really, from what they truly were. We think: the clown has a big smile so that means he's happy, and we maybe think the farmer's a grump, but there's more to him than that.’
– Marla FrazeeThat truth is revealed a few spreads later as the pair become acquainted.
First, an uneasy face-off, the farmer perhaps pondering what to do next.
At supper – the farmer is pictured eating (the clown is shown just looking at his food).
Finally, they take turns washing their faces in an old-fashioned tub.
This is a pivotal moment in the story, an ah-ha! moment, as Frazee reveals that beneath his facepaint, the clown feels sad and scared: a little clown who wants his family. Despite his gruff appearance, the farmer is moved to his very core. Everything takes on a new meaning.
The farmer looks grouchy and even mean, but he is actually very kind and nurturing. The clown looks happy with his painted-on smile, but he is sad and scared. Our first impressions are often wrong, and it seemed to me that the way to communicate that was to show it, not say it. That’s why I decided to leave words out of it.
– Marla FrazeeA long night follows, with the baby clown lying awake and the troubled farmer at the foot of the bed. The following day, the kind farmer does all he can to bring a real smile to the clown baby’s face (kids will enjoy seeing the baby clown smartly juggling eggs while the farmer flounders and fails). After helping in the fields, the farmer takes the clown for a picnic lunch in the shade of a tree.
And that’s when they see it.
The circus train is passing by!
Quick! Run!
TOOOT! TOOT! TOOT! (The only words in the book!)
The farmer stands stooped and restrained as the clown goes berserk, frantically jumping up and down to get the train’s attention. The train stops, and the baby clown is reunited with his family.
Suddenly, the clown baby rushes back to hug his new friend goodbye - a bittersweet moment of tenderness reciprocated by the farmer who swings him joyously in the air like a doting grandpa, before removing the clown's hat and kissing the top of his head.
The baby (now wearing the farmer's hat) waves goodbye from the back of the train, leaving the kindhearted farmer alone on the farm once more. This ending would have been pretty heartbreaking were it not for his relaxed posture, reassuring readers he’s ‘contemplative but not unhappy’. Even so, it’s a relief that Frazee had the idea of opening a new story loop on the final page, leaving the farmer with another unexpected guest: a circus monkey who is shown secretly following the farmer and gesturing Shhh! to the reader.
“It took a while to get to the idea of that monkey. I hope it feels somewhat inevitable, but it really did take a lot of soul-searching to figure out the feeling I wanted to leave this farmer with. I didn't want it to be a devastating story.”
– Marla FrazeeKids will delight in this unexpected and cheeky ending, which is open-ended enough to leave readers wondering what happens next. Meanwhile, Frazee (unwittingly) sets herself up for a silent trilogy, with The Farmer and the Monkey and The Farmer and the Circus as follow-up stories, which I can’t wait to get my hands on…
Tips for sharing Picture BookTake turns with your child to look at the pictures and tell the story. Remember: Wordless stories like this are empowering – there are no rights or wrongs!
Share your ideas about what is happening in the story – but leave room for (and encourage) your child’s interpretation.
Encourage your child to add more detail to their story by asking “W” questions: Who? Where? Why? When? (Not only is this a great moment for connection – but it also naturally increases their vocabulary.)
(Find more tips on sharing wordless picture books at Reading Rockets.)
Copyright © 2014 Marla Frazee (Story & Illustrations)From THE FARMER AND THE CLOWN by Marla Frazee(Beach Lane Books, 2014)Rat illustration © Tim Warnes (2024) GOOD TO READMarla Frazee’s Wordless Picture Book recommendationsNoah’s Ark by Peter Spier
Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola
South by Patrick McDonnell
Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathman
BUY THE BOOKPowered by Bookshop.orgSupporting independent bookshops “both spare and astonishingly rich”“unique and unforgettable” BUY U.K. BUY U.S.A. * I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFF RELATED ARTICLES SOURCESThe Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee (Beach Lane Books, 2014)Marla Frazee, THE FARMER AND THE CIRCUS | Moms Don't Have Time To Read Books (The Zibby-verse, You Tube)WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: THE FARMER AND THE CLOWN & INTERVIEW WITH MARLA FRAZEE – threebooksanight.com (January 20, 2016)Marla Frazee Talks with Roger by Roger Sutton (The Horn Book, September 30, 2014)Simply 7 with Marla Frazee – “The Farmer and the Circus”, jenabenton.com (April 06, 2021)The Farmer and the Clown review by Martha V. Parravano (The Horn Book, December 17, 2014) Are you stuck for quality stories that you and your kids will enjoy? Sign up for recommendations and tips. SIGN UP HERE © 2024 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE
September 13, 2024
“What Small Rabbit Heard”: a funny book for fall
What Small Rabbit Heard by Sheryl Webster, illustrated by Tim Warnes(Oxford University Press, 2010)Good to Read for:Sharing laughter with your kidsExploring language Snuggling up on a windy day I’ve just come home from a wild and windy walk. It’s a glorious late summer/early autumn afternoon, with mounting cumulus clouds in a big blue sky. The sun is shining, but there’s a chill in the air. Windswept martins and swallows soaring above remind me of the changing season. I try hard to resist collecting things that catch my eye. Still, today, I succumbed and brought home some seed heads, a feather and a snail shell (all of which I justified as ‘research’ for an idea I’ve begun tinkering around with about a wandering elf).
My walk reminded me of the picture book What Small Rabbit Heard written by Sheryl Webster, which I illustrated in 2009 (shortlisted for the Heart of Hawick Children’s Award, 2011). It’s been on my mind for a few weeks now, ever since Sheryl tagged me on an Instagram post she wrote. Honestly, I’d forgotten how well Small Rabbit has done internationally. Seeing all of the co-editions lined up (in languages including Portugee, Dutch, German, Swedish, Korean and Thai) was a lovely reminder of its success.
It’s gratifying to know Small Rabbit has played a part in so many storytimes worldwide (and that it was a successful start to Sheryl’s publishing journey, too).
So this week I’m going to shine the spotlight on the book and, as usual, give you some tips for sharing Small Rabbit with your kids so you get the most out of your time together.
The story features Big Rabbit and the irrepresibsible Small Rabbit and a particularly windy day. Kids will relate to the mischevious Small Rabbit from the off:
Small Rabbit did not want to go for a walk.
‘It’s too cold! I’m too busy…and I’m too tired!’
“It’s not cold, it’s fresh,’ said Big Rabbit.
‘You’re not busy, you’re playing.
And you are certainly not yet tired!’
‘Well, it’s too windy. It won’t be fun.’
‘Of course it will be fun,’ said Big Rabbit.’ Now off we go.’
This is a great picture book to share at any time of year, but especially now, as the words and pictures capture the season so well:
Small Rabbit raced up the hill.
It was getting colder and his coat flapped in the wind as he ran.
It’s so windy, in fact, that the howling wind blows all Big Rabbit’s instructions away.
‘The humour in this beautifully illustrated story,’ writes Storysnug review, ‘stems from Small Rabbit’s misunderstanding of Big Rabbit’s instructions’. Here’s another example: When Big Rabbit calls out, “Try to keep up,” her words are ‘lost in the howl of the wind.’
What Small Rabbit heard was…
‘Jump in the mud.’
So he did.
At one point, Small even ends up riding a goat after mishearing the instructions, ‘Fasten your coat.’ (His coat, by the way, is a nod to Peter Rabbit.) The following illustration is one of my favourite images in the book. It’s so wild and spirited and captures Small Rabbit’s playfulness. Holding the goat’s collar and leaning back like a cowboy riding a bronco, waving his stick triumphantly in the air!
Each time, what Small Rabbit heard is revealed with the page turn, which adds dramatic pauses and turns the story into a guessing game: Each time, ask your child if they can guess what Small Rabbit thinks was said. (It reminds me of the old party game, Chinese Whispers, where the meaning of the sentence is altered as the words are misheard and passed along the line.)
The Bookbag review agrees that Small Rabbit is a great way to get young kids started with wordplay:
They won’t be too young to know that. Stay with me, please sounds a bit like roll in the leaves. The more children play with language, and see language being played with, the more they’ll love language, love books, love their brains buzzing in all sorts of directions. I’ve heard it said that children don’t really get jokes until they’re about 7. Rubbish. Surround ’em with appropriate wordplay, and they’ll lap it up.
- The BookbagSmall Rabbit's antics are sure to tickle your child's funny bone. As Raquel Curvacheiro shared on Goodreads, her 6-year-old laughed out loud at what Small Rabbit heard, while the 2-year-old eagerly asked for more. Small’s not wilfully naughty. In fact, he thinks he’s doing everything he’s been asked to do - and he’s never had so much fun! I mean, which child wouldn’t want to be ordered to jump in the mud, roll in leaves or climb the trees! Meanwhile, parents will identify (and smile wryly) at the increasingly exasperated Big Rabbit.
As they approach home, Big Rabbit sees Small hopping ahead. She looks at how dirty he is and thinks ‘of their lovely clean burrow.’ Of course, the final instruction she calls out – ‘Please don’t go inside!’ – is blown away on the wind.
This is a great point to pause with your child and see if they can guess what Small Rabbit heard that rhymes with ‘don’t go inside’. Either way, there’s a moment of suspense as Big Rabbit ‘[peeks] cautiously into the burrow’ and tiptoes inside. A trail of muddy prints leading to a cupboard gives kids a visual clue…
‘BOO!’ laughed Small Rabbit.
‘It took me ages to find somewhere to hide. But I did!’
Small Rabbit leapt into Big Rabbit’s arms.
‘Windy walks are lots and lots of fun!’ he said.
And Big Rabbit had to agree.
I feel nostalgic, looking back at the book fifteen years after working on the illustrations. I’m reminded of special times with my boys and countless walks in the countryside, picking up sticks, climbing trees and running about like wild things (and yes, yelling pointlessly into the wind as they get up to mischief!). I recognise familiar toys, including Noah’s cuddly mole, who went everywhere with him! (Mole also crops up in Little Honey Bear and the Smily Moon.)
What Small Rabbit Heard highlights those everyday interactions that are easy to overlook and pass by so quickly – clean washing, flapping in the wind, helping kids on with their coats, picking up children’s belongings, and spontaneous moments of exuberant joy. Such moments, captured in the illustrations, reflect the love and intimacy of everyday family life which, as The Bookbag notes, bring ‘an underlying gentleness and heart to the pictures’.
It’s no wonder Small Rabbit has been such a big hit.
Tips for sharing What Small Rabbit Heard If you have the time and energy, get your kids to act out all the verbs – hop, skip, jump, roll –while the book is being read to them!
Pause before revealing what Small Rabbit "heard" and turn the story into a guessing game.
My illustrations are packed with incidental characters, so go on a little treasure hunt – there are hidden frogs, mice, and even a caterpillar to find!
What Small Rabbit Heard by Sheryl Webster, illustrated by Tim Warnes(Oxford University Press, 2010)Good to Read for:Sharing laughter with your kidsExploring language Snuggling up on a windy day Copyright © 2010 Sheryl Webster (Text) & Tim Warnes (Illustrations)From WHAT SMALL RABBIT HEARD by Sheryl Webster & Tim Warnes(Oxford University Press) BUY THE BOOKPowered by Bookshop.orgSupporting independent bookshops
“The 6 year old laughed out loud and the 2 year old just asked for "more, more, more".”
– Raquel Curvacherio, Goodreads
- Amazon customer review
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