Lenny Has Lunch
Ken Wilson-Max
Alanna Max

The strong bond between a father and his infant son, Lenny, is beautifully captured in this simple story that unfolds in the family kitchen. We watch as Daddy prepares a healthy lunch for his little one – chopping the various veggies, putting them and the pasta in pots to cook on the hob – and enjoying a sing-song until the meal is ready to eat. We then see Lenny relishing his lunch, he’s at the messy eating stage and his dad remans close at hand, as does the family dog, Wilbur,

until Lenny has finished eating and then it’s face wash time, after which Lenny and Wilbur play together.

Throughout the entire sequence, a sense of calm prevails and Ken Wilson-Max portrays this to perfection in his bold, bright scenes that complement the telling; a telling that has lots of fun onomatopoeia – ‘Splash! Slurrp! Slurrp! Splash!’ and ‘Suck, suck. Plop!’ – for small children, who like Lenny are at that imitative stage, to copy. Young children will also enjoy joining in with Daddy, and Lenny as they sit together singing and acting “Row, row, row your boat / gently down the stream. … “

Altogether a lovely presentation of family life, this is ideal for families with a toddler.