Tim Warnes's Blog: My Life in Books, page 9

October 22, 2021

Celebrating Grandmas with ‘I'm Not Sleepy!’

Stories Worth SharingI’m Not Sleepy! by Jane Chapman(Little Tiger Press, 2012)Good to Read for:celebrating grandmascreating a calm atmospherefeeling cosyIt’s good when picture books acknowledge that it’s not always just parents who care for children. (I think that’s one of the reasons why my book, I Love You To the Moon and Back , is doing so well: the reader is left to decide the relationship between the big and little bear.) A favourite of mine in this category is I’m Not Sleepy! by Jane Chapman (Little Tiger Press, 2012).

This cosy read turns the familiar ‘I don’t want to go to bed’ storyline on its head by celebrating the caregiving role of Grandma Owl.

(Find other recommendations of picture books that celebrate grandparents and the elderly at the end of this article.)

As with many human grandparents, Grandma Owl’s in charge of getting her ‘favourite owlet’, Mo, off to sleep. So she carries him (on her back) up to Mo’s nest at the top of the tree. (“It’s a long way up, for a little owlet”, she puffed.)

Hop…Jump…Flutter…FLUMP!

“Ooof, she huffed, sliding him down.

“Here we are!”

That pleasing onomatopoeic phrase – Hop…Jump…Flutter…FLUMP! – rolls off the tongue and is repeated throughout the story. That repetition helps lodge it in a kid’s brain, encouraging them to remember it and start joining in.

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This is a Good Thing because:

it boosts children’s confidence and self-esteem (especially pre-readers)

the repetition is reassuring and helps children feel safe

the rhythm and cadence aids speech development

Once Mo is all cosy, Grandma Owl then hops down to her book. But her work has only just begun! Because Little Mo won’t be put to bed that easily!

First, he calls out for his Bedtime Biscuit.

Then for someone (i.e. long-suffering Grandma) to tuck him in – again!

Grandma plumped and prodded… and tucked and rolled…until Mo looked like a wriggly, green pancake….

Chapman’s anthropomorphism is subtle. Her illustrations make eating biscuits, reading books and being tucked up in leafy blankets the most natural thing in the world for an owl to do! Yet her owls still look believably naturalistic. (Their downy feathers look like they’d ripple if you blew on them). The characterisation and scenarios are convincing too, which lends the story a cosy, everyday feeling.

“No more noise now [,” said Grandma, “] …unless there’s an Emergency.” And she blew [Mo] a kiss, and hopped down to her book.

Needless to say, Mo summons Grandma from the top of his tree!

“GRANDMA, GRANDMA! IT’S AN EMERGENCY!”

‘IT’S AN EMERGENCY!” thought Grandma. “Oh my goodness!”

Poor old Grandma. She flies all the way back up to Mo.

“What is it? What’s the Emergency?” puffed Grandma.

“I’m not sleepy!” said Mo.

“I don’t want to go to bed. I want to play!”

Hmmm. Sound familiar, anyone?

Fortunately, Grandma is a wiley old owl, and she has ‘a very good idea.’

“I’ll go to bed, and YOU can stay up!”

Mo is delighted!

“YES! YES! YES!” laughed Mo, “and you’ll need fresh leaves… and a Bedtime Biscuit…and tucking in …and EVERY TIME I come up I’ll blow you a kiss.”

A lovely spread follows this exchange, with that phrase Hop…Jump…Flutter…FLUMP! Being repeated alongside vignettes of Mo as he discovers that it’s ‘hard work putting Grandma to bed.’

Most of the stars were gone when a little voice called up from below.

“Grandma?… I’m really sleepy.”

Clever – and kind – old Grandma comes to the rescue!

“On my back,” she said.

Hop… Grandma carries Mo…

Jump… all the way up…

Flutter… to his nest…

FLUMP! At the top of the tree.

The final spread is adorable and tender. Grandma Owl snuggles Mo down, tucks him in, smooths his feathers gently and blows him a kiss. It’s an intimate (and reassuring) moment that parents, grandparents and kids will identify with.

In terms of ‘I don’t want to go to bed’ stories, there’s nothing out of the ordinary here. What makes I’m Not Sleepy! stand out from the crowd though is the beautiful characterisation, its colour palette of cool nighttime blues and greens, the gentle humour and that lovely refrain:

Hop…Jump…Flutter…FLUMP!

Plus, the important fact that it is Grandma who features as the caregiver.

As one reviewer on GoodReads (somewhat tongue-in-cheek, I suspect) commented:

I couldn’t stop thinking about this poor young owl’s life. Why is his grandma putting him to bed? What happened to his parents? Did they die tragically? And where is Grandpa Owl? So. Much. Loss.

But you know, it raises some interesting questions – questions which, quite feasibly, might be on your child’s mind. It’s often quoted that children’s literature should act as a mirror and a window. In other words, kids need:

to see themselves reflected in the books (which helps develop a sense of worth and identity)

opportunities allowing them to see how other people live (which leads to empathy).

Seeing relationships (other than the traditional parent and child) portrayed in picture books is refreshing, especially with so many separated parents and blended families. In that sense, I’m Not Sleepy! plays an important part in allowing kids – whose grandparent is a significant presence – to see their lives reflected in the story.

And I bet Grandmas enjoy the acknowledgement, too!

Stories Worth SharingI’m Not Sleepy! by Jane ChapmanGood to Read for:celebrating grandmascreating a calm atmospherefeeling cosyGOOD TO READ

Picture books celebrating grandparents and the elderly

My Grandpa by Marta Altés

The Green Ship by Quentin Blake

Granpa by John Burningham

Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies

King of the Sky by Nicola Davies & Laura Carling

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña & Christian Robinson

Birdsong by Julie Flett

Monet’s Cat by Lily Murray & Becky Cameron

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“Ridiculously cute”– Saffron, GoodReads

“A cute, clever story that is enjoyable for all ages.”– GoodReads
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SOURCESI’m Not Sleepy by Jane Chapman (Little Tiger Press, 2012)GoodReads
© 2021 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE

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Published on October 22, 2021 02:11

October 15, 2021

A Bedtime for Bear

A Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton(Walker Books, 2010)Good to Read for:the hilarious double act, Bear and Mousefeeling cosyreading aloudEvery now and then, a timeless comedy double act is born. Examples from the world of kids’ books include Elephant and Piggie (Mo Willems), Charlie and Lola (Lauren Child) and Pooh and Piglet (A.A. Milne).

Then there’s Bear and Mouse by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton. ‘For children…trying to navigate the world of friendships, or facing new experiences, Bear and Mouse are the perfect companions’, wrote School Library Journal. Their complicated relationship unfolds in a series of picture books, including today’s recommendation, A Bedtime for Bear (Walker Books 2010).

Bear and Mouse are a hilarious pairing, thanks to the quality of the characters’ pithy dialogue and exaggerated poses. MacDonald Denton’s depictions of Bear are brilliant! Her visual description of his roller coaster of emotions (including annoyance, frustration, anger, exhaustion, and fear) leaves kids in no doubt about how he’s feeling. It’s one of those magic picture books where words and pictures work seamlessly together, complimenting the other to each tell their part in the story.

In classic picture book tradition, the story begins one evening in Bear’s cosy home. He’s sat reading in an armchair in front of the fire when he’s rudely interrupted by ‘a tap, tap, tapping on his front door.’ Bear’s expression says it all!

When he opened the door, there stood Mouse, small and grey and bright-eyed. He clasped a tiny suitcase in his paw.

“I am here to spend the night!” exclaimed Mouse with a happy wiggle of his whiskers.

The friends enjoy ‘an evening playing draughts and drinking warm cocoa’ in front of the fire until it is time for bed.

“Remember, I must have absolute quiet,” said Bear.

“Oh, indeed,” said Mouse.

As with most comedy pairings, the friction created by the characters’ opposing personalities (further enhanced by the vast size difference between the two) brings the conflict and – for the reader, at least – the humour.

Becker herself describes the long-suffering Bear as fastidious and grumpy. He is a curmudgeonly character with an ‘impressive vocabulary’. He’s a far cry from, for example, Barbara Firth’s plodding and loving Big Bear (who, in contrast, lacks personality). Instead, this Bear is impatient and freely vents, allowing for wonderfully expressive banter and theatrical poses. Yet he’s never threatening and always coming across as ‘gruff-but-loveable’.

Poor Bear is rigid and particular – and it’s made clear from the very opening page: ‘Everything had to be just so for Bear’s bedtime. … [And] most of all, it had to be quiet – very, very quiet.’ I guess he’s like an ursine Oliver Hardy. You might say he’s controlling. At any rate, Bear is stuffy and needs to lighten up. It’s a good job he has the self-assured Mouse to mix things up a little…

Reviews describe the diminutive Mouse as ‘ever-ebullient’ and ‘i rrepressible’. He is simply NOT quiet (as readers of the other Bear and Mouse books will testify)!

Mouse brushes his teeth loudly. (‘“Most sorry,” said Mouse.’)

He hums while putting on his nightshirt. And when Mouse hops into bed (in Bear’s bedside drawer!), the creak, squeak, rattle causes poor Bear to jam his pillow over his ears, grit his teeth, and close his eyes.

“Goodnight, Bear,” Mouse called softly.

Bear tried to pretend he was asleep.

“Goodnight,” Mouse called a little louder.

“My ears are highly sensitive,” cried Bear.

“How interesting,” Mouse said.

This is too much for Mouse’s curious mind to resist. And he proceeds to test Bear’s hearing – and patience – to its limit!

Finally, Bear snaps.

“Will this torment never cease?” wailed Bear.

“Sorry, Bear. Goodnight, Bear,” whispered Mouse, tiptoeing back to bed as quiet as a …well, you know.

I LOVE it!

Kids will relate to this story’s events. As with all sleep-overs, the chatterbox eventually falls asleep. And as with many other sleepovers, someone is left awake and alone. This time, it’s Bear. That’s right – big ol’ Bear starts to feel scared! Seeing the tables turned on the big, parental character delights – and empowers – kids!

Bear heard a crick, crick, crick on the floorboards.

“I know it’s you [, Mouse].”

No answer.

“You can’t fool me,” Bear growled, but he didn’t sound very certain.

…

Bear was sure something was rustling on the floor.

“MOUSE!” he cried. ‘Wake up!”

Mouse stumbled out of bed, small and grey and sleepy-eyed.

“What is it?”

(I’ll tell you what the illustration is: a Stan Laurel moment, encapsulated in a teeny-tiny mouse!)

Bear feels foolish and tries to save face by claiming to have been sleep-talking. Mouse sees through Bear’s bravado. But rather than call him out on it, he checks around the room (“for … things, you know”). What a kind friend Mouse is!

Of course, everything in Bear’s bedroom is as it should be. And just as Mouse is heading back to bed, Bear shouts:

“Wait!” … You’ll want a bedtime story, I expect. For your nerves.”

Bear is rigid and set in his ways.

But Mouse is adaptable.

He’s happy to play along with his friend’s framing of the situation and settles down to ‘the adventures of the Brave Strong Bear and the Very Frightened Little Mouse’! By the end of the book, Mouse is the one still awake – listening to Bear’s LOUD snoring! Mouse just smiles…and falls asleep wearing ear defenders!

At face value, A Bedtime for Bear is a funny story about two friends. But behind the humour lurks an often unspoken reality: friendships are complicated.

Learning this at an early age benefits everyone. As one reviewer comments on GoodReads, ‘compromising and sharing spaces can be hard. Adjusting to new ways of doing things is hard. Sometimes we just need a friend to help us get through the change.’

As we read about the minds, experiences, and feelings of another, we feel with them. This increases our ability to understand others’ minds and internal experiences so that we can better empathize with them. The more children practice this skill, the more their brains get wired with this capacity.
– How Reading with Your Children Can Help Them Develop a ‘Yes Brain’

While many picture books skirt around the potential pitfalls of friendship, Bear and Mouse (like Elephant and Piggie) throw kids in at the deep end. They model flawed relationships that require navigating with precision and care. By sharing such examples, you’re strengthening your child’s empathy muscle and providing them with a crucial life skill.

Not only that – you’ll have a good laugh along the way!

STORIES WORTH SHARINGA Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald DentonGood to Read for:the hilarious double act, Bear and Mousefeeling cosyreading aloudGOOD TO READ

Other picture book double acts that make me laugh

The Charlie and Lola books by Lauren Child (Orchard Books)

The Rabbit & Bear books by Julian Gough & Jim Field

The Bear and Mouse books by Bonny Becker, ill. by Kady Macdonald Denton (Walker Books)

Chalk & Cheese by Tim Warnes (Simon & Schuster 2008)

The Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems

For older readers

Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake & Jon Klassen

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“Few duos are as dependably fresh and amusing as Mouse and Bear.” —Booklist“My daughter and I have all of the books and find ourselves laughing out loud every time we read.”– Vanessa, GoodReads Buy US* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THIS LINK #AD/AFFRELATED ARTICLESSOURCESA Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton (Walker Books 2010) Crystal Kite Winner Interview Week 3: Bonny Becker, A Bedtime for Bear (SCBWI: The Blog, 2 June 2011) Interview with Bonny Becker (Book Buddies, 10 March 2009) Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Kady MacDonald Denton (7 Impossible Things Before Breakfast, 5 July 2011) A Library Book for Bear (Kirkus Reviews) A Bedtime for Bear (Good Reads) How Reading with Your Children Can Help Them Develop a ‘Yes Brain’ (Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., & Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.)© 2021 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE

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Published on October 15, 2021 00:51

October 8, 2021

Weasel is Worried

From A Little Bit Anxious (A.K.A. Weasel is Worried) by Ciara Gavin, illustrated by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press, 2020)

A Little Bit Worried (A.K.A. Weasel is Worried) by Ciara Gavin, illustrated by Tim Warnes(Little Tiger Press, 2020)Good to Read for:encouraging children to share their worriesteaching empathyexploring mindfulnessI’ve personally suffered from bad mental health over many years. (Thankfully, I am thriving right now.) I have seen beloved family and friends suffer, too – either directly (or indirectly) from mental health problems. So it’s a drum I like to bang on from time to time – and World Mental Health Day (Sunday 08 October 2021) seems as good a time as any!

Perhaps much of the problem lies in the fact that there’s still a stigma attached to having mental health problems. People don’t know how to talk about it. Mental Health Foundation acknowledges that ‘[m]any people don’t even feel comfortable talking about their feelings. But it’s healthy to know and say how you’re feeling.’

This is why I’ve chosen A Little Bit Worried, by Ciara Gavin (illustrated by myself), as my Story Worth Sharing today. It’s a great story about friendship – and a reminder that we’re all different. But dig a bit deeper, and you’ll find ‘this gentle story offers the perfect starting point for conversations about worries and fears’ (North Somerset Teachers’ Book Award). Which makes it an excellent tool for promoting good mental health in your kids!

Weasel was minding his own business, out collecting leaves, when suddenly the weather changed.

Gavin uses the weather as a metaphor for Weasel’s mood. The change comes upon him suddenly and unexpectedly. Ironically, the book was published at a time when EVERYBODY’S mood suddenly and unexpectedly changed. It was March 2020 – the beginning of the global COVID pandemic. Its release couldn’t have been timed more perfectly. One minute we were going about our lives as usual, out and about collecting leaves (or groceries!). The next, BAM! A colossal storm hits. In the story, Weasel feels very small and defenceless against the angry storm around him. So he builds himself a fortress to keep safe. Similarly, we found ourselves in lockdown. The parallels were uncanny.

Time passed, and Weasel got used to being by himself. But one day, he turned around… and was alarmed to find Mole sitting on his couch.

From A Little Bit Anxious (A.K.A. Weasel is Worried) by Ciara Gavin, illustrated by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press, 2020)

Some kids are worriers (like Weasel). Others are more open and optimistic.

More ‘Mole’.

Mole has a different way of seeing things to Weasel! And that’s where A Little Bit Worried is elevated from just being a great little story into a Useful Tool for parents and carers. Let me explain.

Mental Health Foundation’s number 1 tip for looking after your mental health is to talk about your feelings.

Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled.
– Mental Health Foundation

Sometimes we are reluctant to talk about our feelings. We fear rejection or ridicule (or perhaps being misunderstood). Maybe the attitudes of others teach us that we don’t have anything worth saying. At my lowest points, I know I was unable to make sense of my thoughts, let alone verbalise them to others.

The charismatic Mole is kind and compassionate. A safe person to confide in. He’s a breath of fresh air. A little ray of sunshine!

From A Little Bit Anxious (A.K.A. Weasel is Worried) by Ciara Gavin, illustrated by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press, 2020) | Photo credit: Sean Regan

Mole demonstrates sensitivity by gently questioning Weasel, What’s wrong with a good storm anyway?

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From A Little Bit Anxious (A.K.A. Weasel is Worried) by Ciara Gavin, illustrated by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press, 2020)

This prompts Weasel to open up further and talk.

Weasel told Mole about the wind and the rain, the damp and the chill, the snow and the ice. All the things that frightened him the most.

Mole listens.

He doesn’t mock Weasel for being scared of the wind and the rain.

He doesn’t tell Weasel to stop being silly or stupid or negate him in any way.

From A Little Bit Anxious (A.K.A. Weasel is Worried) by Ciara Gavin, illustrated by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press, 2020)

Instead, Mole shares his own experiences and feelings –

“I see,” said Mole gently. “But storms can be such fun, too! Whenever it snows, I love to scoop it up and make a snowman.”

Mole continues, explaining how the wind lifts his fur and makes it feel all ticklish.

How he loves splashing in the biggest puddles he can find.

And how the simplest of pleasures – a cup of hot soup – ‘“tastes extra wonderful when you’ve been out in the rain.”’

From A Little Bit Anxious (A.K.A. Weasel is Worried) by Ciara Gavin, illustrated by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press, 2020)

In effect, Mole presents a different way of looking at the source of Weasel’s anxiety – which ultimately helps Weasel reframe his thoughts.

One of the benefits and joys of sharing a picture book with your child is that it creates a safe, quiet moment where you can be alone together, one on one. Such moments (where distractions are minimal) are precious and give children a natural opportunity to talk and share (the number 1 tip for looking after your family’s mental health).

The story has a satisfying and heartwarming ending. Feeling less anxious but still a touch of trepidation, Weasel has a final question:

“But Mole,” said Weasel, ‘what do you do when you feel afraid to face something?”

“I face it with my friend,” smiled Mole. And with that, he held out his hand … and together they walked out into a warm sunny day.

For me, the true value of picture books lies:in their ability to create connectionin their role in developing children’s empathy (By which I mean, they help children step into someone else’s shoes and see life from their perspective.)

Both these factors equip kids to become emotionally and mentally strong. Only then can they be like Mole and reach out a supportive hand to someone else’s Weasel.

So please look at my suggestions below for further picture book recommendations whose value goes beyond the quality of the writing and illustrations alone. If needed, follow Mole’s example and use them to start conversations to support your child. Or simply enjoy them for the great stories they are, in the knowledge that you are strengthening your child’s empathy muscle and equipping them to help someone in a time of need.

STORIES WORTH SHARINGA Little Bit Worried by Tim WarnesGood to Read for:encouraging children to share their worriesteaching empathyexploring mindfulnessGOOD TO READ

For emotional health & well-being

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña & Christian Robinson

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas

Tiger Lily by Gwen Millward

Bear and Wolf by Daniel Salmieri

How To Be a Lion by Ed Vere

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Hurd

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Weasel is Worries - Storyteller Tim Warnes - 8/10/2021

“[Tim’s] illustrations, as always, are beautifully executed” – THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION

“uplifting and joyful!”– @AFAMILYTHATREADS

buy uk buy us * I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFFRELATED ARTICLESSOURCESA Little Bit Worried by Ciara Gavin, illustrated by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2020) How to Look After your Mental Health (mentalhealth.org) A Little Bit Worried (North Somerset Teachers’ Book Award 15 April 2020)© 2021 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on October 08, 2021 01:53

October 1, 2021

That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown

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That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell, illustrated by Neal Layton(Orchard Books, 2006)Good to Read for:its strong female lead, Emily Browninspiring creativity and imaginative playthe funny text and exuberant illustrationsAs a genre, picture books are often criticised for the scarcity of strong female characters. Statistically, it’s true. But when they do appear, they are everything you could hope for – and Emily Brown is no exception.

(Check out my recommendations at the end of the article for more girl-powered picture books!)

Wide-eyed and demure (yet feisty for all the good reasons), Emily Brown is inspirational. Forthright yet polite, she's created by a class act: The current Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell (words), and Neal Layton (pictures). Wildly imaginative, Emily Brown always takes the lead (be it first up the gangplank into the spaceship or driving the motorbike). All in all, an extremely positive female protagonist!

Here’s Layton’s take on the character he helped create:

“[Emily Brown] is a very strong character with a strong sense of justice, but she’s sensitive and an adventurer. … [W]hen I first drew her, I wondered whether to put her in dungarees or shorts. But I thought, ‘No, I’m going to put her in a dress’. Why shouldn’t you be able to go adventuring and save the world in something you feel good in?”

WE MEET…ILLUSTRATOR NEAL LAYTON (BOOKS WITH BABIES)

That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown is the first in a series of picture books featuring Emily Brown (and her bunny sidekick, Stanley). Cowell’s opening line, ‘Once upon a time,’ sets the stage for an exciting, fantastical adventure worthy of any fairy tale:

Once upon a time,

there was a little girl called Emily Brown

and an old grey rabbit called Stanley.

Beloved toys always end up looking a bit worse for wear – and Stanley is no exception! (Layton used images of his old teddy’s fur to create Stanley’s threadbare appearance.) But Emily loves him!

From That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell, illustrated by Neal Layton (Orchard Books, 2006) | Illustration © 2006 by Neal Layton | Text © 2006 by Cressida Cowell

The inseparable friends are boarding a spaceship (headed for ‘Outer Space to look for alien life forms’) when there’s a knock at the door.

It’s the Chief Footman to Her Most Royal Highness Queen Gloriana the Third! She would like to exchange Emily Brown’s ‘Bunnywunny’ for a brand-new golden teddy bear.

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Emily Brown looked at the Queen’s teddy bear.

It was stiff and new and gold and horrible.

It had staring eyes and no smile at all.

“No thank you,” said Emily Brown. “This rabbit is NOT for sale.

And his name isn’t Bunnywunny. It’s STANLEY.”

And Emily Brown shut the door politely.

Brilliant!

The friends continue having adventures. But the Queen is determined and sends more Royal Envoys (each with an increased offer for Stanley). Emily Brown is consistent and forthright. A loyal friend to Stanley, she can’t be bought off and remains unintimidated by the Queen.

Finally, the Wing Commander of the Air Force arrives in a fleet of air balloons.

Now Emily Brown was FED UP!

She sent that Air Force away and she pinned a big notice on the garden gate that read:

Layton’s illustrations are genius. They have raw energy (think John Burningham on speed), and I admire them hugely. Children’s imaginations defy time and space, and Layton captures that essence perfectly by juxtaposing his scribbly drawings with photographic elements. He presents the doors through which the military forces come and go as free-floating entities in scenes where the ‘real’, and the imagined, are entwined in entirely plausible ways.

(I first read That Rabbit years ago when the kids were young. The image of Emily Brown and Stanley deep-sea diving for treasure stuck with me. It’s simple and effective. I can’t imagine a more perfect way that the scene could have been illustrated.)

Back to the story.

In a surprising turn of events, the Queen resorts to stealth. In the dead of night, she sends in a crack team of Special Commandos to break into Emily Brown’s house…

When Emily Brown woke up the next morning, for the first time in her life there was NO STANLEY!

Children will really engage with this scene. They have a strong sense of right and wrong and will be outraged by the injustice of the situation. I mean, the Queen – of all people! What’s more, all kids can likely relate to the intense feeling (so perfectly captured in Layton’s art) of suddenly realising that a precious cuddly toy has been lost.

It was just such a moment that inspired Cowell to write That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown. In an interview, she tells of the time her daughter’s beloved cuddly toy, Mr Dog, went missing. “We looked everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE...under sofas, behind chairs, in cupboards, in the garden…but Mr Dog was nowhere to be found.”

Cowell’s daughter cried herself to sleep, and Mr Dog remained missing. A few days later, he was found – in the freezer! When asked why Mr Dog was in there (next to the fish fingers), Cowell’s daughter replied, ‘Oh I remember now, he was looking for the north pole….’

“So that was the inspiration for the book,” explains Cowell. “[T]he extraordinary imaginary adventures that children go on with their toys, and the strength of the bond between the child and the toy.”

Emily Brown was SO CROSS.

She knew just what had happened.

She marched straight up to the Palace on the Hill.

She knocked on the Queen’s front door.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Once Stanley is in the Queen’s possession, ‘she learns an important lesson: that it takes more than mere ownership to make a toy special.’ She is relieved to see Emily Brown because ‘there’s something wrong with Bunnywunny!’

Poor Stanley has been washed and restuffed ‘so he wasn’t flippy-floppy anymore.’

And, worst of all, they had sewn up his mouth, where Emily Brown had picked it away, and Stanley wasn’t smiling anymore.

Stanley was MISERABLE.

“Emily Brown is undaunted [by the Queen]”, explains Cowell in a 2016 interview with the Guardian. “She is not scared. She is given a huge bribe of all the toys she could desire, yet knows what she wants ... what the important things are.”

Reunited with Stanley, Emily Brown turns to leave. But the Queen’ begins to cry and wail. So Emily Brown fetches the golden teddy from the Royal Toy Cupboard and pops it on the Queen’s lap. “You take that horrid brand-new teddy bear and you play with him all day,” she whispers into the Royal Ear. “Sleep with him at night. Hold him very tight and be sure to have lots of adventures. And then maybe one day you will wake up with a real toy of your OWN.”

That Rabbit begins with ‘Once upon a time’ and ends with a satisfying ‘Happily Ever After’. Emily Brown and Stanley are on another adventure (‘exploring the Outermost Regions of the Milky Way’) when another Rat-a-tat-tat! comes on the kitchen door…

It’s a letter from Queen Gloriana the Third, headed with a picture of her with her smiling teddy.

And it just said: Thank you.

Beneath all the fun of That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown lies an important message. But it’s not really there for the kids.

Like Emily Brown, they have an intuitive understanding of the Important Things in life. Cowell explains that it’s there for the adults who have become preoccupied with the new and the shiny (and distracted by gadgets). Life has a habit of sweeping us along, and it’s too easy to forget what really matters:

Investing in family and friendships.

Spending time with the ones we love.

Having fun together (maybe connecting over a picture book!).

To paraphrase Cowell, these are all key characteristics and values that come naturally to Emily Brown.

Which makes Stanley a very lucky rabbit indeed!

STORIES WORTH SHARINGThat Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell & Neal LaytonGood to Read for:its strong female lead, Emily Browninspiring creativity and imaginative playthe funny text and exuberant illustrationsGOOD TO READGirl-powered picture books!

The Charlie and Lola series by Lauren Child

The Clarice Bean series by Lauren Child

The Maisy Mouse series by Lucy Cousins

The Olivia series by Ian Falconer

Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood & Ella Okstad

Tiger Lily by Gwen Millward

Lavender by Posy Simmonds

The Elephant & Piggie series by Mo Willems

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“That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown captures the unbreakable bond between children and their mankiest toys.” - The Telegraph

“Best picture book of the year.” – Financial Times

Buy UK* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFFSee more of Neal Layton’s work in his online portfolio.RELATED ARTICLES SOURCESThat Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell, illustrated by Neal Layton (Orchard Books, 2006) Neal Layto n - Illustrator and Author (neillayton.com) About Cressida Cowell (cresidacowell.co.uk) We meet Illustrator Neal Layton (bookswithbaby.com) Cressida Cowell chats about Emily Brown and King (Glenn Meads, whatsonstage.com, 7 October 2014) That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown Interview with Cressida Cowell: 'I encourage you to be creative. It’s part of my job' (Krazy Kesh, The Guardian, 24 March 2016)© 2021 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)**** USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on October 01, 2021 01:43

September 24, 2021

Beegu: A universal message of hope

From Beegu by Alexis Deacon (Hutchinson, 2003) | Illustration © 2003 by Alexis Deacon

This week, I recommend Beegu by Alexis Deacon (Hutchinson, 2003) as my Story Worth Sharing. It’s about a small alien who crashes on Earth. She is not meant to be here – certainly not alone. And now she is lost.

Let’s get one thing straight: Beegu is adorable! She is a luminous, bright lemon yellow that bestows her (according to Publishers Weekly) with a ‘celestial simplicity’. With two long ear-like antennae, Beegu is highly expressive. One minute they trail along behind her. The next, they are raised quizzically – or held erect in alarm. Three eyes make Beegu suitably other-worldly, yet she retains the cuteness of a stuffed bunny.

Unfortunately, most of the Earth creatures she meets are big and unfriendly. But that’s the BIG ones. The small ones are a different matter.

I’m a big fan of the movie, E.T. So a picture book about a little lost alien is going to appeal! (If you say the name, Beegu, nice and slow, it even brings to mind E.T. instructing Elliot to Be good.) I remember reading Beegu to Noah as a kid. It jumped out at me then and really appealed to his interest in outer space – and the exciting notion of aliens! That was many years ago now, and Beegu (like E.T.) has stood the test of time.

Unlike E.T., Beegu’s arrival (as already mentioned) is somewhat more dramatic. Interestingly, the title page places us at the scene post-event: In a dark, heavy landscape, a spacecraft is embedded in the ground, burning up from the inside. And there lies Beegu.

Deacon likens Beegu to “a little shiny jewel” – and she really does shine out from the darkness of his stark landscapes (which only adds to her other-worldliness.)

Turn the page, and time has passed.

The fire in the spaceship has burnt itself out, and the billowing smoke is reduced to a whisper. The sky is lighter – and now Beegu is awake.

Beegu was not supposed to be here.

She was lost.

Beegu is all the more profound for its simplicity. How (or why) she has crashed is not revealed – but the ambiguity is part of the story’s strength and threads throughout the story. So, rather than overloading us with information, Deacon chose instead to reduce the text to a minimal amount. When paired with his enchanting illustrations, he tells the story we need to know.

Because of this minimal approach, Beegu prompts many questions – and that’s part of its appeal. Take that opening scene, for example, where Beegu lies on the ground, a short distance from the crashed spaceship:

Is Beegu asleep?

Unconscious?

Did she eject before impact, or has she crawled that short distance?

Complex emotions and unanswered questions present opportunities to connect and chat with your child – and invite their interpretation of the story. (Find out the significance of this later.)

Awake now, Beegu searches for help. But ‘[n]o one seemed to understand her.’

Deacon’s illustrations speak volumes. There’s Begu surrounded by a group of similar-looking rabbits. A speech bubble indicates she’s talking, but it’s meaningless to us (and the rabbits). Look carefully, and you’ll notice that Beegu is mirroring the posture of the rabbit. It’s a tiny detail that could open a broader discussion of how we – particularly children – might copy someone in an attempt to fit in.

Children will find Beegu utterly charming – and they will also relate to her. They know what it’s like to be – and feel – small (and vulnerable) in a world of overpowering adults. They will have felt misunderstood. So they will root for the overlooked alien as she wanders the streets alone (shown from a child’s eye perspective), looking for a way home to her mother.

Beegu didn’t like being alone.

She needed to find some friends.

At last, she does make some friends - a box full of puppies!

I love this spread. It’s absolutely masterful in its simplicity. First, we see Beegu leaning over a box, her ears held high and active. Then a close up of her curled up with the puppies, snuggled and entwined in a bed of straw. It’s very touching and needs no explanation.

But the next day, Beegu is separated from the comfort of her new friends and is rejected by the man at the Stray Dogs’ Home. Later, after a promising playtime with some school children, Beegu is once more separated from her friends and evicted from the playground by a hard-hearted grown up.

Deacon deliberately leaves certain aspects of the story ambiguous and open to interpretation, which is a smart move on his part. It will spark creativity in your kid as they fill in the blanks and come up with their own answers. (For example, what caused Beegu to crash in the first place.) The joy of this is that there are no wrong (or right) answers! It’s as if the author has given them the reins and said, There you go, now you tell the story. In other words, they are put in the position of the storyteller.

“I like to say that the best books leave a good portion of the experience to the reader’s own imaginative investment,” explains Deacon. “Fifty percent author, fifty percent you….”

The rest is open to interpretation. This is very empowering to children and can be a liberating story experience.

Sure, kids do this all the time through imaginative play. But it’s something else to be given the power over a character on the page. What’s more, stories such as Beegu are great for your relationship, too, since they create opportunities for you to chat together and bond.

The story has a happy ending: Beegu is beamed back up to a passing spaceship and reunited with her parents.

Beegu is a captivating picture book that covers the precious themes of friendship and inclusion.

The feelings it invokes are universal – making Beegu a character that all kids will relate to. As Deacon explains:

Childhood is full of moments of feeling in or out of the crowd. Think of starting a new school or welcoming a new child to your own school, meeting a newborn sibling for the first time or perhaps a new family if your own has broken up. These are very common events, but they affect us deeply.

Writing this article made me consider the wider ramifications of feeling like an outsider – and I was reminded of the song, Trailway Bus by Paul Simon:

The border patrol outside of Tucson boarded the bus

“Any aliens here, you better check with us

How ’bout you son?

You like you’ve got Spanish blood

Do you “Habla ingles”? Am I understood?”

“Yes, I am an alien from Mars

I come to Earth from outer space

And if I traveled my whole life

You guys would still be on my case

You guys would still be on my case.”

– Trailway Bus © 1997 Lyrics by Paul Simon and Derek Walcott

Beegu highlights the need to welcome the stranger in our midst.

The displaced and the frightened.

It’s about the value of accepting those who don’t look like us, who speak a different language and perhaps behave in strange ways.

The alien.

Making it an important message for the world to hear right now.

And ultimately – right at its core – Beegu is a message of hope.

Yes, the adults are selfish and judgemental. But ‘the small ones’ - the children – save the day. They’re the ones who befriend Beegu – thanks to their open and welcoming hearts.

“Earth creatures were mostly big and unfriendly,” Beegu tells [her parents], “but there were some small ones who seemed hopeful.” She gazes wistfully out the spaceship window at the receding Earth: “Beegu would always remember those small ones.”
– Publishers Weekly

This is why picture books like Beegu are so valuable.

By teaching empathy and modelling kindness, they create hope.

And we all need that.

Because one day, the small ones will be in charge.

STORIES WORTH SHARING: Beegu by Alexis Deacon

Good to Read for:

Teaching empathy.

Sparking creativity.

Modelling friendship.

GOOD TO READ

Picture books about being lost

The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers

A Bit Lost by Chris Haughton

The Storm Whale by Benji Davies

Red Ted and the Lost Things by Michael Rosen & Joel Stewart

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‘uplifting’

- Publishers Weekly

‘a heart-warming and satisfying tale that is certain to provide comfort to young children.’

- BookTrust Buy UK* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THis LINK #AD/AFRELATED ARTICLESSOURCESBeegu by Alexis Deacon (Hutchinson, 2003) Beegu (Publishers Weekly) A place to call home, the blog of author and illustrator Alexis Deacon (alexisdeacon.blogspot.com) Beegu by Alexis Deacon…a tale of a lost visitor from another planet (Booked for Life, 13 July 2020) Trailways Bus (Paulsimon.com)© 2021 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on September 24, 2021 01:33

September 17, 2021

'The Day the Crayons Quit': Raising laughs – and important issues

From The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins, 2013) | Illustration © 2013 by Oliver Jeffers

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins 2013), is my Story Worth Sharing this week. First and foremost, it is funny! I laughed aloud reading this, which is a good enough reason to recommend it. Because frankly, we could all do with a good laugh – and sharing a joke with your kids is something special.

The story’s premise is simple and genius. Here’s writer Daywalt on finding his idea:

I was literally staring at a box of crayons on my desk and couldn’t help but notice how unevenly they were used. Blue and red were nubs, pink was untouched, peach had had its wrapper torn off… poor little thing. What if they could say anything they wanted to me? What if they could just let me have it? I bet I’d get an earful. And that’s when it hit me.
- Author Spotlight: Drew Daywalt - KidLit41

The disgruntled crayons belong to Duncan, who we never get to see. instead, we are presented with a stack of envelopes addressed to him. (The use of photographic imagery for the envelopes and letters lends credibility to the set-up.) The story consists of a litany of complaints (in Jeffer’s trademark handwriting) from each crayon from then on.

Jeffers’ work is (as always) exquisite. The little crayons themselves are adorable. With their black-edged, coloured paper wrappers, they instantly conjure up the iconic Crayola brand. This makes them familiar childhood friends - which adds to their charm. Through the combination of Daywalt’s pithy dialogue and Jeffers’ incredibly distilled and expressive drawing, the crayons exude personality (kids will recognise their simplified expressions from smartphone emojis).

A furrowed brow her, a pointy finger there.

They are concise and brilliant.

Hey Duncan,

It’s me, Red Crayon. We need to talk.

Duncan’s ‘overworked friend’, Red, is worn out from year-long duties.

I even work on holidays! I have to colour all the Santas at Christmas and all the hearts on Valentine’s day! I NEED A REST!

Grey Crayon (also very tired) made me laugh!

Grey Crayon here. You’re KILLING ME! I know you love elephants. And I know that elephants are grey... But that’s a LOT of space to colour in all by myself. And don’t even get me started on your rhinos, hippos and HUMPBACK WHALES…

‘Baby penguins are grey, you know,’ adds Grey rather hopefully. ‘So are very tiny rocks.’

Brilliant!

Amongst the jokes and cuteness, the creators provide moments of genuine empathy, too. Feeling empty and invisible, White Crayon has an existential crisis (‘If I didn’t have a black outline, you wouldn’t even know I was there!’). Peach Crayon, with its paper wrapping peeled off, is too embarrassed to leave its box. (‘How would YOU like to go to school naked?’) And you’ve got to feel sorry for Duncan’s favourite colour of the past years - Blue Crayon, who has been reduced to a mere short, stubby stump. (‘I need a BREAK!’)

On a deeper level, The Day the Crayons Quit raises some interesting questions about expectations put upon – and obligations felt by – the individual. Not to mention how colours are perceived by children.

For example:

Why is pink seen as a girl’s colour? Why can’t dinosaurs and monsters be pink occasionally?

Which colour can rightly lay claim to being the colour of the sun? (Yellow and Orange are at loggerheads and no longer speaking to one another.)

The story’s conclusion is satisfying. The crayons’ complaints have been heard and addressed. In a final creative outpouring by Duncan, he acknowledges their feelings. By breaking free from creative norms and rules, Duncan (mostly) grants his crayons’ wishes: little grey penguins, a giant orange whale and pink dinosaur contrast with the yellow sky (complete with a black rainbow!). Duncan himself is awarded a gold star for creativity!

The Day the Crayons Quit is a winner, in every sense. Because as multiple reviews note, it is funny, clever and encourages kids to think more creatively.

But I want to leave you with one thought that caught my attention in a review on The School Library Journal blog.

The article’s author (Elizabeth Bird) was troubled by the story’s racial inequity. It may seem far fetched. But diversity in children’s picture books is hot on the agenda, so it’s worth flagging up. Because historically, picture books have ‘been places where prejudices are both intentionally and unintentionally on display.’ [Bird] So her thoughts are valid and worth sharing:

Insight 1:

‘Peach complains vociferously that its wrapper has been removed. “Now I’m NAKED and too embarrassed to leave the crayon box. I don’t even have any underwear!”

The Day the Crayons Quit - Storyteller Tim Warnes - 17/09/2021

‘That Daywalt is linking peach to flesh is no crime,’ writes Bird. But here’s the issue. The illustration accompanying Pink Crayon’s letter to Duncan shows an embarrassed pink monster – ‘obviously believing itself to be naked’ and covering its private parts (while the dinosaur points and laughs). Bird reasonably concludes that pink and peach ‘are clearly equated with flesh tones.’

Insight 2:

No other flesh tones are suggested or represented pictorially in the book. ‘[T]o produce a book where pink and flesh are equated with skin tones and that possibility isn’t even considered with beige or brown makes for a complicated reading.’

Bird is right: All the human characters depicted (Santa, wizard, kids) share pink or peach tones. There are no brown - or beige - kids.

This is problematic (and makes for ‘complicated reading’) because in effect, The Day the Crayon Quits demonstrates an implicit bias (and unintentionally reinforces prejudice) by sending the message that peachy-pink is the de facto skin colour.

It was a missed opportunity to be more inclusive.

More diverse.

Antiracist.

[in]the absence of making antiracist choices, we (un)consciously uphold aspects of white supremacy, white-dominant culture, and unequal institutions and society.
-NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

It’s not something I noticed on the first reading. On the contrary, Beige’s complaint made me laugh aloud (‘It’s not fair that Brown gets all the bears, ponies and puppies while the only things I get are turkey dinners (if I’m lucky) and wheat, and let’s be honest – when was the last time you saw a kid excited about colouring wheat?’) However, what’s notable is that it took Bird’s insightful comments to make me stop and think and reflect. (I’ve also been listening to the brilliant – and challenging – Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You (Ibram X. Kendi & Jason Reynolds) which has opened my eyes and my ears and my heart.)

All children have the right to see themselves reflected and represented in picture books - it is vital for a fairer world. And I’m aware of the opportunities I’ve also missed to be inclusive in my own work. So it’s a conversation that I will keep having here on my blog. Because our kids deserve a brighter future.

STORIES WORTH SHARING: The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

Good to Read because:

It’s funny! This will entertain you as much as your child.

It should inspire creativity. (It’s a dream book for KS-1 teachers.)

It raises valuable questions about expectations, obligations and even race.

GOOD TO READ

Picture books with disgruntled characters!

I’m Not Cute! by Jonathan Allen

NO! by Tracey Corderoy & Tim Warnes

Grumpy Frog by Ed Vere

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‘Fresh and funny.’

–The Wall Street Journal

‘This story made me laugh out loud’

- The Guardian Buy UK Buy US* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFFSome useful links for teachers looking to use THe Day The Crayons Quit in class

KS1 Book Topic: The Day the Crayons Quit

The Prindle Institute for Ethics: The Day the Crayons Quit

Related articlesSOURCESThe Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins 2013) Author Spotlight Drew Daywalt (kidlit411.com) The Day the Crayons Quit (The Prindle Institute) Review of the Day: The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt by Elizabeth Bird (School Library Journal, 05 August 2015) Being Antiracist (National Museum of African American History and Culture) KS1 Book Topic: The Day the Crayons Quit (Teachprimary.com, 19 December 2014)© 2021 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on September 17, 2021 02:01

September 10, 2021

The Lion Inside - teaching kids the benefits of bravery

From The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field (Orchard Books 2015) | Illustration © 2015 by Jim Field

Fans of The Gruffalo and The Lion King will love this week’s Story Worth Sharing (it has a flavour of both). It’s been translated into 30 languages and sold over 200,000 copies in the UK alone – a testament to its quality. Yes, siree, The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field (Orchard Books 2015) is definitely Good to Read!

The story’s hero is ‘the littlest, quietest, meekest brown mouse’ with yellow, saucer-like eyes and ears to rival Dumbo (or Despereaux). Dear sweet little Mouse, often described in reviews as shy and introverted.

Yet, the story’s premise is that he wants to be noticed – because he wants to make friends. The problem is – being ‘so incredibly small’ - means he’s unable to make himself seen or heard!

In other words, Mouse is lonely.

He’s also a little beat up from trying to get noticed (despite cheery ‘Hello’s, he is trodden and sat on, ignored and forgotten).

Yes… mouse-life was tough.

Mouse suffers – as most young kids do - from being the smallest voice in a world of louder (seemingly more important) ones. Meaning his character resonates with children - especially those with more dominant older siblings! He lives at the base of a craggy old rock. Far above, right at the top, lives a ‘huge, toothsome creature’: Lion.

Lion is arrogant and proud. He is ‘SHOUTY and TOUGH’– a vain show-off who ‘loved showing the crowd he was made of strong stuff.’

“If only,” thought Mouse,

“I could be more like that…”

One night, ‘in his mini-mouse bed,’ Mouse has a eureka moment:

“I’ve got it!” he said. “What I need is a ROAR!”’

Mouse figures that if he is loud (like Lion), he will get noticed enough to find some friends.

He pulls How to Roar down from his bookshelf (“I will learn how to roar and I WILL learn it NOW!”). But to his dismay, Mouse discovers there’s only one beast who can teach him this skill: Lion!

Mouse is an excellent character for kids to observe from the sidelines. Yes, he’s timid and small. But what he lacks in stature, he more than makes up for in bravery. Because somehow, Mouse finds enough confidence to face his fears (being eaten) and find a solution to the problem (a lack of friends) - by learning how to roar from the master himself.

As Mouse sets off on his quest, Field’s dramatic landscapes get darker and the tension increases. Yet despite the sense of danger (and the genuine threat that Mouse might get eaten), The Lion Inside has a light-hearted feel. Undoubtedly this is, in part, down to Bright’s flowing rhyme and friendly phrases (for example, ‘weeniest squeak’). But perhaps this sense of fun owes more to Field’s cast of humorous characters with their exaggerated expressions (and a healthy smattering of colourful speech bubbles.)

Then, at last, as he stood

on his tippity-toes,

He found himself

suddenly nose to…

… NOSE.

“Ahem, GULP, pardon me.

Wake up, Mr Lion, you’ve got company!”

With a squeak, Mouse asks Lion the all-important question:

“...[D]o you think you could teach me your roar?”

I’m a big fan of using page turns for dramatic effect – and Field pulls out all the stops. First, we zoom in for a big close-up (revealing how the tiny Mouse could easily fit inside one of Lion’s nostrils). Then, another page turn brings a surprise: The lion, somewhat unexpectedly… lets out an “EEEEEEAK!!!”

Being little (as the back cover blurb reminds us) isn’t always easy. So kids will delight in this David and Goliath moment which upends the power balance (I remember first reading the story - this moment came as a real surprise!). Because suddenly, the little guy has the upper hand.

The lion was shaking. His paws all a-fumble.

He was backing away with a scrambling tumble.

“Don’t hurt me,” he whimpered. “Oh! Try to be nice.”

Well, my goodness, this lion was frightened of mice!

Dear Mouse reassures Lion that he is a friend, not a foe. And suddenly, Mouse doesn’t feel small anymore.

He had found his true voice and learned to speak out,

And for THAT you don’t need to roar or to shout.

Best of all, Mouse finds an unexpected friend in Lion

And from that day and always, the two were a pair.

…

The mouse, while still little, felt BIG in his head.

And Lion? He still roared…but with laughter instead!

STORIES WORTH SHARING: The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field

Good to Read because:

It’s great fun to read aloud.

Young kids will relate to the little guy - who comes out top!

It’s a positive message about being brave to achieve our goals.

GOOD TO READ

Picture books about being brave

Tad by Benji Davies

Sir Lilypad by by Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie

Max the Brave by Ed Vere

The Great Cheese Robbery by Tim Warnes

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The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field (Orchard Books 2015) | Illustration © 2015 by Jim Field

‘[A] feelgood rhyming story’

- lovereading4kids

‘A must have story about finding courage within yourself’

- North Somerset Teachers Book Award buy us BUY UK* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFFSOURCESThe Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field (Orchard Books 2015)Related articles© 2021 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on September 10, 2021 01:28

September 3, 2021

Boris Starts School

I've worked on many picture books featuring bears over the years. It feels like the public just can't get enough of them! One particular bear who holds a soft spot in my heart is the big-hearted Boris.

Boris is an inspirational character - gentle, kind and helpful. With kids starting a new school year, I thought it was time to share Boris Bear's debut - Boris Starts School by Carrie Weston (Children's Author and Professor of Education) with illustrations by me (Oxford University Press 2012).

The day that Miss Cluck said there was going to be a new animal in the class, everyone was very excited. They each imagined what he might be like - perhaps pink and fluffy? Or floppy and brown with velvet paws? The mice hoped for a bear in wellingtons and a duffle coat! In other words, something small and teddy-like.

So when Boris takes his first hairy, scary, grizzly steps into the classroom, everyone screams!

Poor old Boris. He's only trying to make friends, but somehow (what with his fierce-looking teeth and claws), he creates panic everywhere.

'Boris is too big!' cried one little mouse.

'Boris is too hairy!' yelled another.

'Boris is too scary!' they all squeaked together.

I loved illustrating Boris. He's shy and says very little, so the challenge was to convey emotion through his body language. I think I did a pretty good job. You can't help but feel sorry for him.

I was a shy kid at primary school. I remember my first few years there - all I wanted was to go home to be with my mummy. I spent a lot of time on my own drawing - or sat in the book corner. Those memories - and feelings of isolation - were channelled into the illustrations!

At hometime, Boris plods along far behind the others.

Suddenly, from a hollow tree leapt…

The rat pack!

Ha! This bit was FUN! (At the time, Noah was about six years old, and we watched a lot of Pokemon and Ninja Turtles. Can you tell?!)

Seeing the excitement ahead, Boris (always keen to make a new friend) stands tall to greet the rats 'with his biggest, widest bear grin'.

'Yikes! It's a hairy bear!'

'Help!' It's a scary bear!

'Quick! Run! It's a hairy, scary, grizzly bear!'

The rotten rats ran away as fast as their skinny legs could carry them.

'But I only wanted to say hello…' called Boris.

Over on GoodReads, Boris Starts School has a mixed reception. Not everyone is entirely comfortable with the story. Some readers feel that the classmates are mean for finding Boris scary. One reader expressed the opinion that the class teacher, Miss Cluck, found Boris to be an 'inconvenience'. (Another went as far as saying, '[Miss Cluck] isn't very friendly or supportive to Boris as a new student', and that she reinforced the idea that he was scary.)

While I respect their opinion, I have to disagree.

Miss Cluck (throughout all the stories) clearly has the patience of a saint - and loves her pupils! She is motherly and protective - just the kind of Early Years teacher you'd wish for your kids.

See how she beams up at Boris as she leads him into the class by the paw? She is not scared of him, and welcomes him warmly. She finds Boris a seat next to Maxwell the mole - then another, bigger chair after the first one cracks under his weight. Next, she gives Boris a new book and pencil. ('He was very proud indeed.')

True - lunchtime is a bit of a disaster. But that's the whole point. There's the conflict.

Everyone - (Miss Cluck included) are dwarfed by Boris. He's a big ol' bear described as having fierce teeth and big paws with sharp claws. When they play hide-and-seek, Boris shuts his eyes and counts:

'One…two…three… coming to get you,' Boris boomed.

You'd be intimidated, too!

(This scene actually reminded me of playing 'What's the time Mr Wolf?' There's often a point where Fun-Scary tips over into Too-Much-Scary!)

Miss Cluck ushers everyone inside for afternoon school.

'Let's go inside and play some quiet games,' said Miss Cluck, 'and Boris, please try to be less scary, dear.'

OK. Perhaps Miss Cluck should have chosen her words more carefully. But the reality is, Boris is still The Unknown.

The Stranger in Town.

An enormous, hairy, scary, grizzly bear!

Do his classmates judge Boris based on his appearance? Initially - yes. But don't we all, at some time, in one way or another? And isn't this something that should be flagged up as Not A Good Thing? The story certainly doesn't encourage the behaviour - quite the contrary. Instead, it develops empathy by showing the reader how this makes Boris feel.

Most importantly, Boris carries the beautiful message (made explicit on a class poster in Boris Saves the Show):

All different. All special.

To bring this closer to home: I've spent many happy days this school holiday in the company of my nine-year-old nephew, Super Isaac. He's a gentle giant. He's similar to Boris in other ways, too: kind and helpful, creative and forgiving. Like Boris, he can also be clumsy and awkward. Meaning, at times, Super Isaac's behaviour may be intimidating to those who have yet the pleasure of meeting him - because he is autistic.

This adds extra significance to the review of Boris Starts School by Bookbag:

[T]he figure of a "lumbering bear" was used to great advantage. A child entering a new social environment may feel small, invisible and lost, but may also feel exposed, huge and very much noticeable.

Making friends isn't always easy.

Some have it much harder, in one way or another.

There are times when we will feel lonely, maybe even ostracized.

Children need to be taught how to navigate these situations - and picture books play a crucial role in this.

Boris Starts School reflects the experience of lots of children. It reminds us not to judge by first impressions and appearance. That we are all different - and unique. This theme is continued throughout the series. And that's what makes the Boris books so great! Based on the real experiences of children in authentic (thus relatable) school settings, they affirm being an individual.

If you want to teach your children the value of friendship and acceptance, let Boris and all his pals show them how special and beautiful we all are, and that no matter what, it's what's in our hearts that counts.
- Mumzworld.com

A final note about Paddington Bear. Since he is alluded to in the text and illustrations, my editor sent Michael Bond (Paddington's creator) a copy of our book. Mr Bond replied:

I think [Boris Starts School] is a delightful book and I really enjoyed the story. It made me laugh out loud, and given the gloomy state of the weather yesterday, it acted as a much needed tonic.

I'm sure Paddington will feel highly honoured to be accorded a mention, and that goes for me too!

STORIES WORTH SHARING: Boris Starts School by Carrie Weston and Tim Warnes

Good to Read because:

Boris is such an inspirational character: gentle, kind and helpful!

It teaches your children the value of friendship and acceptance.

The authentic classroom settings add depth to the story (and support visual literacy).

GOOD TO READ

Picture books featuring Boris and friends - by Carrie Weston & Tim Warnes

Boris Starts School (initially titled, Oh Boris!)

Boris Goes Camping

Boris Saves the Show

Boris Gets Spots

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Boris Starts School - Storyteller Tim Warnes - 3/9/2021

‘Pitch-perfect writing and delightfully charming illustrations will make this a treasured starting school story.’

- Good Reads

‘With gorgeous illustrations that bring the characters to life, this book is perfect for reading out loud.’

- Book Trust buy uk* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THis LINK #AD/AFFSOURCESBoris Starts School by Carrie Weston, ill. by Tim Warnes (Oxford University Press 2012) Boris Starts School (Mumzworld.com) The New Bear at School (Goodreads.com) Oh, Boris! by Carrie Weston and Tim Warnes (thebookbag.co.uk, October 2007)Related articles© 2021 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on September 03, 2021 00:54

August 27, 2021

Oh No, George! A funny pooch who resonates with kids

From Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton (Walker Books 2012) | Illustration © 2012 by Chris Haughton

My Story Worth Sharing this week is Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton (Walker Books 2012). Visually vibrant, it stands apart from the crowd with flat, abstract colours and simple graphic shapes, typical of Haughton’s work.

It’s about a dog (George) who attempts to be good while left home alone by his trusting owner (Harris).

“Will you be good, George?” asks Harris.

Harris’ question may be tentative - but George’s response comes without hesitation!

“Yes,” says George.

“I’ll be very good.”

George’s confidence is reassuring - until the page is turned and we are faced with the reality of the situation:

I hope I’ll be good, George thinks.

Ha! His comic timing is spot on.

I love Haughton’s writing style. It’s direct, to the point and funny! The story is perfectly paced, thanks to Haughton’s skilful use of page turns. They create natural pauses, which he exploits to build tension as George embarks on what Kirkus Reviews describes as ‘a flurry of misbehavior’ - beginning with the Cake Incident.

It IS one heck of a delicious looking cake!

George places his paws on the counter for a closer look.

Uh-oh.

I said I’d be good, George thinks, but I LOVE cake.

Oh, the dilemma!

Haughton zooms in for a close-up and asks: What will George do?

Talk about suspense!

Once the page is turned, all is revealed. It’s a beautiful example of visual storytelling - George is shown happily scarfing down the trophy cake.

It needs no written explanation! The text simply reads: Oh no, George!

Those refrains – What will George do? and Oh no, George! – are repeated with comedic effect each time George succumbs to temptation (and messes up). They create dramatic pauses in the storytelling, giving kids the opportunity to interject with their own ideas. Kids love joining in like this - and will undoubtedly welcome the chance to feel morally superior as George runs amok!

Finally, his owner Harris returns home.

By now, George has demolished the cake, chased the cat, dug in the flowerpot and generally trashed his home (a series of events described in the Guardian review as ‘catastrophic levels of mischief’)!

Oh No, George! is a well-crafted, funny book. ‘George’s facial expressions (for instance, a subtle positioning of his ears) and body language ... are full of humour’, notes Booktrust. This physical, visually expressive comedy is no accident. It’s as carefully staged as one of Mr Bean’s raised eyebrows - inspired, Haughton says, from living with a professional clown.

‘[T]here is something lovely about … silent visual humour,’ he writes on his blog. [A clown’s] timing and expression is very important and I try to imitate that if I can.’

(The book trailer (see below) captures the silent comedy aspect beautifully. It’s apparent in Haughton’s other picture books, too - particularly SHH! We Have A Plan which sees a group of Stooge-like characters attempting to catch a bird.)

Not only is Oh No George! a fun, interactive read, it also presents a character that we can all relate to! Temptation lurks around every corner. We try so hard to be good. Which makes this a universally reassuring story. Because no matter how hard we try, sooner or later, we mess up (like George) and create trouble for ourselves. As Kirkus Reviews notes, ‘Young children who struggle to follow the rules will feel a bond with George’.

When his owner returns, an ecstatic George greets him as any loyal pooch will:

“Hello, Harris! Great to see you!”

Uh-oh.

“George! What have you done? You’ve RUINED the place…

“And how on earth did you eat a WHOLE cake?”

Actions have consequences - and poor George is suddenly filled with remorse. In a big, bold spread, a tearful George thinks:

I said I’d be good…

I hoped I’d be good, but I wasn’t.

It pulls at the heartstrings - you just can’t help feeling sorry for George! Every child under the sun will be able to identify with how George is feeling. Now the big question is: What will George do?

George apologises, of course, and offers Harris his favourite toy (a rubber duckie). Despite everything, George is forgiven and taken out for a much-needed walk! Unfortunately, poor old George is faced with the same temptations (a delicious cake, some lovely soil to dig in, and a cat to chase) once more.

But this time, George finds the willpower to resist. (‘Even Cat is a bit surprised.’)

Well done, George!

Just when George is winning, he’s faced with the ultimate temptation: a very interesting smelling rubbish bin!

Uh oh.

There’s nothing George likes more than rubbish.

What will George do?

Publishers usually want story threads to be neatly tied up. So it’s refreshing to be left with this open-ended cliffhanger:

What will George do?

George?

Use the open-ended question to spark some creative riffing as you discuss some possible outcomes and hilarious scenarios with your kids!

STORIES WORTH SHARING: Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton

Good to Read because:

It’s funny!

George’s naughty behaviour resonates with (and reassures) kids who will identify with his struggle to do the right thing.

Kids will love the repetition of the question - What will George do? - and response - Oh no, George! (Use Haughton’s clever page turns to prompt creative thinking, encouraging your child to suggest what might happen next.)

GOOD TO READ

Picture books by Chris Haughton

A Bit Lost

Shh! We Have A Plan

Don’t Worry, Little Crab

Goodnight Everyone

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‘brilliant [and] bold’

- BookTrust

‘present-tense narration and repeated refrains make this a natural for reading aloud.’

- Kirkus Reviews

buy uk buy us* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFFSOURCES Oh No, George! (Kirkusreviews.com, 1 March 2012) Chris Haughton (Chrishaughton.com, 23 February 2013) Chris Haughton (Chrishaughton.com) Oh No, George By Chris Haughton (Reba and Amatullah, The Guardian.com, 8 April 2012) Oh No, George ! (booktrust.org.uk)© 2021 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on August 27, 2021 01:42

July 30, 2021

Home is where the heart is

From My New Home by Marta Altés (Macmillan, 2014) | Illustration © 2014 by Marta Altés

With the school summer break well underway, I thought it was timely to share a story about moving house and changing schools.

So my recommendation this week is My New Home by Marta Altés (Macmillan, 2014).

Altés’s characters - simple and expressive - are utterly enchanting! Her colour palette is limited to red, ochre, a warm brown and cool grey-blue (painted in watercolour against clean white backgrounds) which lends sophistication to the book.

The story - about moving house - is narrated by a little raccoon. It begins with a reassuring moment: the racoon boxing up her cuddly toys.

Some friends you can take with you.

But others must be left behind.

Driving away, the little racoon looks back at her friends. They are huddled in a group, gathered together to see her off.

Rabbit and Mouse hold hands. Along with Dog, they seem ok.

But Cat looks so sad!

It’s a bittersweet moment that contrasts with the following spreads, where Racoon is playing amongst packing boxes. It’s not much fun without her friends. You can see that from her body language, which tells us she is sad - not excited - by the experience of moving house.

‘I feel so far from home’, she says.

My New Home is an excellent example of how a good picture book should work. Because Altés shows things happening in the images that aren’t mentioned in the text at all. This is one of the reasons I recommend it - because it will develop your child’s visual literacy and own storytelling skills.

For example, Altés’s illustration of the little racoon, on her first day at school, portrays exactly how she feels. Across two spreads, the text merely says:

New can be scary…

… and a little bit lonely.

It is direct and to the point. From the illustrations, the reader can clearly see that the little racoon feels overwhelmed and daunted. She hides behind Dad’s protective tail, hoping to disappear into the security of his big fluffy tail. Classmates walk past. They stare and pull faces.

At playtime, the racoon feels lonely. She hugs her own tail, watching as her classmates run about having fun with each other.

In an interview with Booktrust, Altés explains the importance of using both words and illustration to tell the story in picture books.

“In almost every picture book, there are three stories that are told at the same time. One is the text, the next one is the images, and the third is the one we make up in our head as we bring the words and images together. Without one, the other wouldn’t exist. I find picture books so fascinating because of this; it’s a kind of magic because the real story is made up in your mind.”

Picture books need to address the more challenging experiences of life, and in My New Home, Altés acknowledges the hard realities of moving house.

‘I was happy in my old house’, explains the racoon. A warm scene depicting joyful, waving friends contrasts with the opposite page: A rainy day in cool grey tones, where passing strangers remain hidden under their umbrellas.

Here everything feels new.

I don’t really like it.

I’ve shared before how shy and lonely I was when I first started school and how much I wanted my mummy! So I can totally relate to this little racoon who goes and sits alone beneath a tree and begins drawing in the dirt with a stick:

First, a house.

Then her friends.

Longing to be elsewhere, she remembers -

Dad says not to worry.

Altés cleverly leaves the identity of the adult racoon open-ended. Maybe it’s Dad, or perhaps it’s Mum - or someone else altogether. It doesn’t matter! Throughout this article, I refer to the little racoon as she – but again, Altés leaves that open to interpretation. This lack of description allows readers to project their own experiences and draw their own conclusions. This ultimately allows more children to relate to the characters - and form their own story - the ‘real story … made up in your mind’ that Altés refers to.

The little racoon continues: ‘[Dad] says that when I least expect it…’ - a group of friendly faces appear from the trees - ‘I’ll find new adventures.’

And adventures make loneliness disappear…

Such a beautiful line, full of hope! The racoon (now included in her classmates’ games) smiles for the first time as she realises that new can be exciting!

Another rainy day.

Outside are more umbrellas.

But this time, the characters are no longer passing strangers. It’s the racoon’s new friends calling round to play - fellow adventurers, eager to make use of all those empty packing boxes! Together, they help her feel like she’s at home again.

My New Home is a clever and gentle story. Yes, it’s about moving house - and at its core is the old adage, Home is where the heart is. But its broader themes of loneliness and making friends are universal. It will reassure kids experiencing similar feelings to the little racoon and give others confidence when facing new situations. My New Home also develops empathy in children by demonstrating ‘the importance of kindness and acceptance when meeting someone new’. Empathy must be learnt - and picture books like this will strengthen that muscle.

One of the things that makes My New Home stand out from similar stories is that the little racoon’s old friends are not forgotten. Midway through the book, Racoon gets mail! Hugging the letter close to her heart, she says:

I still miss my old friends.

But sometimes it feels like they are here.

Finally, on the back endpapers, we see her old friends arriving at the new house. The story has come full circle, and now the little racoon has twice as many friends! Leaving the reader to wonder: What adventures will this big gang have together..?

STORIES WORTH SHARING: My New Home by Marta Altés

Good to Read because:

The story is reassuring - perfect for children moving house or starting a new school.

The clever use of both words and pictures to tell a larger story strengthens your child’s visual literacy and storytelling skills.

Its broader themes give children confidence in new situations and develop empathy in your child by demonstrating ‘the importance of kindness and acceptance when meeting someone new’.

GOOD TO READ

Picture books about moving home

The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore and Richard Jones

Moving House by Anne Civardi and Stephen Cartwright

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My New Home by Marta Altés (Macmillan, 2014) | Illustration © 2014 by Marta Altés

‘A great book to use when talking to kids about the hardships of moving.’

- Becky B. Good Reads

‘[For children] facing an upcoming house move to help reassure them that everything is going to be okay.’

- The Bookbag Buy UK* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFFSOURCESMy New Home by Marta Altés (Macmillan, 2014) Marta Altés (Child’s Play) Marta Altes, author of Little Monkey: 'Picture books are magic because the real story is made up in your mind' (Book Trust, 17 september 2018)
Related articles© 2021 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on July 30, 2021 00:56

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My Life in Books

I have been fortunate enough to inhabit, in one way or another, the world of Children’s Books for nearly 50 years. It’s a world that has brought me solace, joy, excitement, knowledge, friends - and a ...more

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