Sunday, June 10, 2012

When Giants Come to Play - A Beaty, illu. K Hawkes

When Giants Come to Play (pub. 2006) Andrea Beaty; Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

A whimsical story of imagination and friendship, illustrated by one of the most respected illustrators of our time. In this beautifully written, lyrical text, a little girl named Anna enjoys a day with some unusual playmates, a pair of giants who visit only "when the sun shines just so and the wind blows like this and that on its way to somewhere else." The giants adapt familiar childhood games to suit their size, giving acclaimed illustrator Kevin Hawkes opportunities to play with scale, and the premise is the perfect platform for his quintessential, "larger-than-life" characters... Humorous and a little wistful, "When Giants Come to Play" is a celebration of the power of imagination and friendship that could become a classic.


I love the language and the musicality in which this book is written. With its' dream-like feel, it encourages a child-like play with imagination and lots of colourful pictures to go along with the brilliantly scripted text. The author certainly had aloud reading in mind which crafting the narrative. And the unique blend of pictures to not simply accompany, but also add layers to the text is superb. This isn't a 'borrow form the library' kind of book - well worth buying in to own.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Hansel and Gretel - M Morpurgo and E Chichester Clark

Hansel and Gretel - M Morpurgo and E Chichester Clark (pub. 2008)


A gripping retelling of a children's classic story for the new generation. No child ever forgets the story of the witch, the breadcrumb trail and the gingerbread house in the forest. Former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo takes the Brothers Grimm classic to a new level, weaving from these themes a rich fairytale tapestry of hunger and hope, cruelty and courage. With breath-taking illustrations by the celebrated Emma Chichester Clark, this edition of Hansel and Gretel will grip the imagination of a whole new generation of children.




Loved it! A great read for Children 5 - 10yo. A long book, but a new take on the tale of Hansel and Gretel. Very enjyable. Loved the alliteration, and repetition, and way there was flow in the language. Illustrations very suitable and made a great blend with the text. Great to read to your child; great for your child to read it to themselves. Certainly not a classroom of group book; definitely a one-on-one or solo adventure to take.