Monthly Archives: October 2011

Shhh! by Sally Grindley illustrated by Peter Utton

This has been a favourite of Bryn’s for well over a year. Up until now he’s only had this at nursery but I finally got round to getting our own copy and I am so pleased I did.

He was completely thrilled to get the book & we read it 4 times in a row. It’s a fabulous read aloud story encouraging children to be quiet as you creep into the giants castle, past pets, the giants wife until you reach the giants bedroom, giving a loud boo waking the giant & the only means of escape is to ‘shut the book’ of course.

I thought the use of lift up flaps to check you’ve creeped past unnoticed is a fantastic idea adding to the direct involvement of the reader to the narrative, making it feel more immersive & helping build the tension.

I loved seeing Bryn completely caught up in the story, the pretend creeping past unable to contain the giggling, fingers on lips shhhing, pure excitement at the idea of being chased by the giant & returning to safety by snapping the book shut – until the next time.

Children’s Book Week – day 5

On Friday we read

Before Breakfast
The Real Story of Cinderella & the Ugly Sisters by Liz Pichon

During the Day
What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen by Nick Sharratt
My Giant Book of Snappy Numbers illustrated by Derek Matthews

Bedtime
Perfect Day For It by Jan Fearnley
The Real Story of Cinderella & the Ugly Sisters by Liz Pichon
Oliver Who Would Not Sleep by Marat Bergman, illustrated by Nick Maland
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet & Allen Ahlberg

Children’s Book Week – Day 4

On Thursday we read

Before Breakfast
The Real Story of Cinderella & the Ugly Sisters by Liz Pichon

Over Breakfast
The Kiss that Missed by David Melling

During the Day
Few poems from – A Poem a Day chosen by Adrian Mitchell

Bedtime
Perfect Day For It by Jan Fearnley
The Real Story of Cinderella & the Ugly Sisters by Liz Pichon
Oliver Who Would Not Sleep by Marat Bergman, illustrated by Nick Maland
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet & Allen Ahlberg

Children’s Book Week – Day 3

On Wednesday we read

Over Breakfast
The Story of Divaali, retold by Jatinder Verma & illustrated by Nilesh Mistry

During the Day
Noodle likes to eat by Marion Billet
Oscar & Arabella by Neal Layton
Elephant Wellyphant by Nick Sharratt

Bedtime
The Three Wishes by David Melling
The Little Red Train: Great Big Train by Benedict Blathwayt
Snip Snap by Marat Bergman, illustrated by Nick Maland
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet & Allen Ahlberg

Children’s Book Week – Day 2

On Tuesday we read

Before Breakfast
Barry the fish with fingers & the hairy scary monster by Sue Hendra

Over Breakfast
Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Zog by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

During the Day
Creepy crawly by Petr Horacek
Monkey & Me by Emily Gravett
So Much by Trish Cooke

Bedtime
The Little Red Train: Great Big Train by Benedict Blathwayt
The Real Story of Cinderella & the Ugly Sisters by Liz Pichon
Snip Snap by Marat Bergman, illustrated by Nick Maland
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet & Allen Ahlberg

Children’s Book Week – Day 1

It’s Children’s book week so have decided to list the books we’ve read, on Monday we read

Over Breakfast
Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Zog by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

During the Day
Creepy crawly by Petr Horacek
Noodle loves to eat by Marion Billet

Bedtime
Freddie & the Fairy by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Karen George
Barry the fish with fingers & the hairy scary monster by Sue Hendra
The Real Story of Cinderella & the Ugly Sisters by Liz Pichon
Snip Snap by Marat Bergman, illustrated by Nick Maland
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet & Allen Ahlberg

Monkey & Me by Emily Gravett

I remember buying this nearly 4 years ago as one of the 3 for 2 Waterstones offers, Oliver Who Would Not Sleep was the second book (more of that another time) & I can’t remember the third.

We are big fans of Emily Gravetts work & this is a great book for young children. Monkey & Me is a story of a girls trip to the zoo with her stuffed monkey & the animals she encounters. I love the drawings of the little girl impersonating the animals, they provide a great sense of energy & fun, this high energy winds down as she returns home begins to rub her eyes & slowly nods off at the kitchen table.

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As with her other book ‘Blue Chameleon‘ while simple in text & illustration this really delivers an engaging fun read aloud book. The rhyming refrain Monkey & Me is repeated helping build up tension as to what animal will be show overleaf & at the end of the story it is used with long pauses to slow down the pace, creating a sense of tiredness. I also like the contrast of lots of white space on the double pages with the drawings of the girl compared to the busy drawings of the animals taking up all the pages, it provides a real impact after the suspenseful build up. The colour palette is muted aside from the flashes of red stripes on the girls tights & her red jumper, which add to the mood of the book. My favourite page is the depiction of a very familiar sign of tiredness, the little girl rubbing her eyes, signalling the end to such an exciting day

When reading this to Freya it seems she enjoys the repetition of Monkey & Me followed by my impression of the animal (I’ve not mastered a great impersonation of a Bat as yet). I am looking forward to her growing with this book & in time being able to guess which animal is coming next with her own animal impressions as her brother did.

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Monkey &ME

All illustrations © Emily Gravett