The Princess and the Castle
by Caroline Binch
(Cape, 10.99)
This story has a startling beginning. Genevieve avoids the beach, because 'Daddy's fishing boat was lost at sea. He never came home again.' This will be true for most fishing communities. As a reader you feel you are looking in on a real family and their life in a harbourside town.
Resisting all offers to go into the sea, Genevieve creates an inviting world of princesses and castles. The role of handsome prince is played by her brother Little Jack. But 'Princesses don't like beaches', and there is no-one to take on the mantle of Red Knight in Genevieve's fantasy.
One morning a small boat enters the harbour carrying a huge bearded man, who begins to fill this role in her mother's life. The gradual acceptance of him is subtly and believably portrayed and he plays a pivotal part in reversing Genevieve's rejection of the sea.
Elmer and the Hippos
by David McKee
(Red Fox, 4.99)
This new Elmer story features the usual elephant community guided by Elmer's good judgement and kind heart. I had the sudden feeling that Elmer is growing up, Harry Potter- style, as the titles roll on. Here Elmer acts considerately towards a group of hippos who appear on the elephants' patch because their river has dried up. All the other elephants want to send the hippos back, but Elmer not only persuades them that they must share, but also goes off to investigate why the river dried up. There is the familiar mixture of common sense, an underlying moral message directed at us humans and some welcome understated humour.
My Little Case of Jungle Animals and My Little Case of Noisy Vehicles
by Jo Lodge
(Scholastic, 4.99 each)
Sturdy covers, a carry-handle, closing popper on the outside and sturdy paper inside make these bright books appealing. The novelty device is a little different too. The pages fold smoothly in at each side when you close the book, and the images pop out gently when you open them, acting like bellows with extensions. My tester enjoyed the animal-themed title most, which uses familiar similes like 'As cheeky as a monkey' and 'As tall as a giraffe'. The colourfully rendered animals poke their necks, arms, and legs out beyond the edges of the book in a jokey fashion.
The First Day of School
written by Toby Forward and illustrated by Carol Thompson
(Doubleday, 10.99)
There are lots of books about this significant experience in a child and parent's life but this one has a refreshing take.
The narrative pattern is quickly established. We see the boy and read his personalised story underneath. On the opposite page we see the parallel experiences of his mother, this time with no accompanying text. So as readers we have privileged access to the parallel activities of the child at school and the parent at work. We see the packing of lunch boxes for both the boy and the mother, greeting class friends and work colleagues, having a mid-morning snack and then lunch, and thinking about each other while they eat - all at the same time.
Then there's the moment of panic at the end of the day when the mother pulls on her coat and dashes out, worrying that she will be late to pick up her son. There's an amusing picture of the boy rendered in a black and white thought bubble (a visual device that works well throughout), standing forlornly in an empty corridor.
There's a satisfying ending too: 'I held your hand all the way home. What have you been doing today?' asks the child. The reader knows what the mother has been doing, and this provides the perfect opening for discussions about her experiences.
You're Too Big!
written by Simon Puttock and illustrated by Emily Bolam
(Picture Corgi, 5.99)
Another school story, in which animals of wildly varying sizes play and argue. Mouse considers Elephant too big and clumsy. He does squash Hyena's book flat, splodge Mouse's painting, break the swing and jam up the slide, but he defends himself valiantly when Mouse calls him too big. He retorts that he is just the right size, and this is proved true when the parents pick up their offspring at home-time. 'Hyena got a wriggly giggly cuddle.
Lion got a furry purry cuddle. Mouse got a sniffy, squeaky cuddle.'
Elephant got an enormous cuddle. 'And everyone could see that Elephant really was just the right size after all.' The illustrations are sweet, and the characters likeable.
