Suzy Goose is fed up with her noisy flock and heads for the woods in search of some peace and quiet. There, eyes front and with a steady pace, she flip-flops her way happily through the trees, oblivious to the fact that a fox, then a wolf and finally a bear start tailing their 'delicious dinner'. Only the hoot of an old owl scatters her predators and makes her hurry home - afraid of being alone in the woods amidst such a noise!
This is a marvellous book with much to recommend it. Suzy made her debut in Silly Suzy Goose and returns as hilariously daffy and naive, characteristics illustrated brilliantly through her wide-eyed gaze, flip-flop pace and brilliant plain white body - a stark contrast to the splashes of dark greys and spreads of red and black that scream out about the real dangers lurking in the woods as Suzy marches on without a care.
Children as young as two will enjoy the story, but it will also be hugely appealing to older children, who will have great fun re-enacting the tale outdoors.
I Love You as Big as the World, written by David Van Buren and illustrated by Tim Warnes, Little Tiger Press, paperback, £5.99
Big Bear and Little Bear share a special love that is 'as deep as the sea', 'as bright as the sun', 'as strong as the wind', 'as soft as the dew' ...
The simple repetitive text complements the tender illustrations to make this an endearing little book that very young children will find comforting.
Row Your Boat, written by Lisa Bruce and illustrated Robin Bell Corfield, Frances Lincoln, paperback £6.99
Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream, quickly up the river, then swiftly out to sea, meeting a number of fish, octopuses and crocodiles on the way.
This is a delightful picture book, based on the classic rhyme, which comes complete with illustrated actions and music, arranged for piano and guitar, on the endpapers.
Fun on the Farm, Splash in the Sea, illustrated by Ana Martin-Larranaga, Little Tiger Press, £4.99 each
These two titles are the latest additions to Little Tiger's big-and-little books series. These chunky, split-page board books are full of bright, bold and simple illustrations. They follow a mother whale and a mother chicken with their young. The small pages are easy to handle and provide an ideal way for giving very young children the chance to turn the pages for themselves.
