The Thunk
Michelle Robinson and Deborah Allwright
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Unlike everyone else, Hector Voltaire is convinced that one day he will find the legendary, supposedly extinct, Thunk. Such is his enthusiasm that his schoolmates tease him for believing in the wondrous being, but does this deter Hector? Certainly not, he’s all the more determined, though he knows his mission will require skill, patience and a fair bit of equipment; the last he crams into his backpack.

Off he goes and whereas his map reading skills let him down, his powers of observation definitely don’t. Eventually his reward comes in the form of the somewhat malodorous creature he seeks, out for an afternoon stroll.

Pretty soon though, it becomes evident that Hector is going to have to make use of his counting skills, for he’s in for a very large surprise. Hurrah! Now everybody must surely believe the lad about the creature’s existence; but will he go back and divulge what he now knows, or draw up another plan?

What a great read aloud. Young listeners, be they at home or in the classroom, will take great delight in accompanying Hector on his expedition of discovery presented through Michelle’s rhyming narrative and Deborah’s dramatic scenes of the Thunk hunt.