Tag Corey Egbert

Mr Norton’s New Truck

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Mr Norton’s New Truck
Huw Lewis Jones and Corey Egbert
Little Tiger

One Monday morning Mr Norton is about to set off for work when he discovers that a bear has been using his bicycle and has left a note to that effect. However, both wheels are now wonky and there’s honey dripping from the basket of the bike. Not one to make a todo, he does his best wobbling all the way but it takes a long time. On Tuesday Mr Norton tries to catch the bus but it’s jam-packed with all manner of creatures and so he walks the entire way in the rain with a few passengers hitching a ride.
Riding a scooter on Wednesday, with even more passengers, or should we say hangers on, he’s late for work ‘because the scooter was small, the bus was too busy, and the bear had been on his bicycle.’
Thursday’s option is a rickety wagon and Friday’s, a pair of roller skates but unsurprisingly he’s late again.

Come Saturday, Horace Norton doesn’t have to go to work and while having a relaxing soak in the bath he has a great idea. Outside in the barn is his grandfather’s old truck where it’s been for a fair few years. The truck has plenty of room for passengers but it’s not in any state to be driven. So on Sunday, he sets to work to make it roadworthy. By evening, he’s exhausted and the truck still isn’t working so he closes his eyes for a quick nap.

During his time of shut-eye, some friends carrying tools, Bear included, creep into the barn and get busy ‘bashing and buffing, welding and waxing, stitching and scrubbing’ throughout the night. Horace Norton is something of an avuncular character and come Monday morning his forbearance has resulted in him being gently woken with a welcome cuppa and a wonderful surprise.

A cracking, crazy cumulative story with repetition children will love to join in with, and dramatic, splendidly expressive, giggle-inducing illustrations. Likely to become a story time favourite in foundation stage/KS1 settings.

Mr Norton’s New Hat

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Mr Norton’s New Hat
Huw Lewis Jones and Corey Egbert
Little Tiger

Horace Norton is a kind character so when he discovers one Monday morning that a mouse has taken up residence in his hat, he leaves it there and cycles off to work. On Tuesday he notices some birds have made a nest in his bicycle basket but he pedals off obligingly with both lots of tenants.. Come Wednesday there’s a squirrel asleep in one of his shoes. What does he do? The same as on the previous two days. Subsequently he decides to leave undisturbed the stoats in his satchel, and the cats curled up in his coat. By the weekend it’s evident that Horace needs some time to relax. It’s not to be, for the animals are clearly taking advantage of his good nature. Having realised a wash is out of the question, he decides to return to his bed but …

Mr Norton’s increasing frustration with his ever growing menagerie builds to a response which surprises the man himself: “Enough is Enough!’ he shouts causing the animals to scamper away. Is this the response he longed for though? Not so, for he realises how very lonely an empty silence in one’s home can be.

When the next Monday comes around, Horace finds a surprise parcel at his front door; it’s a gift from the animals and one that results in a welcome solution to his solitude.

Young listeners will love Huw Lewis Jones’ zany cumulative tale with its wealth of alliteration, as well as lots of repetition to join in with. They’ll love too Corey Egbert’s scenes of the mischief-making animals and the growing mayhem they cause for their host. A smashing amalgam of words and pictures; it’s sure to be a story time winner.