Tag Ed Vere

Max and Bird

jillrbennett Leave a comment

%0A

Max and Bird
Ed Vere
Puffin Books
There’s a lot of flapping in this book and some of it surprisingly, or maybe not if you already know Max the kitten, is actually done by Max himself; but we’re getting ahead of things. Of course everyone knows that cats tend to chase birds, so why is Max’s opening gambit to Bird, ‘Let’s be friends!’? And why does Bird reply, ‘Yes, please!’ He clearly doesn’t know about this chasing tendency although Max certainly doesn’t leave him in the dark about his intentions; ‘First, I’ll chase you … Then maybe I’ll eat you up. You look like a tasty snack!’ he continues. This brings us to the flapping – well almost – for Bird then tells Max that he’s not yet learned to fly and that eating each other up is not what friends do. The two sit and consider things for a while, then Bird comes up with an idea; essentially it’s a kind of deal that starts with Max teaching him how to fly. Fair enough; hands are shaken and flight principles explained by Max who only then realises that he doesn’t actually know how to get airborne at all.
Next stop, the library and in particular here …

%0A

something of a restricted choice for the pair because neither can reach past the bottom shelf. Nevertheless, after several weeks reading, they have the principles in a nutshell. And it’s then that the flapping starts– a whole exhausting day of it …

%0A

Followed by a night of flying dreams and then another day of more flapping but no flight. Bird loses it completely.

DSCN7640

The only thing to do is to ask an expert and this they do – very politely – and the rude creature (a pigeon) is more than pleased to show off his aeronautical skills. Then, incredibly (at exactly 5.23 pm so we’re told) Bird has lift off – albeit wobbly and brief. That’s one part of the deal fulfilled, but what about the other part? Max weights up his options…

%0A

and comes to a decision …
Totally captivating: from the first moment Max sets those huge staring eyes on you, your heart melts and you’re under his spell. Surely he wouldn’t gobble down his new friend, would he?
Ed Vere has the genius knack of making seemingly simple situations into the most riveting dramas. With this, his third Max story, he’s added another to his folio of not to be missed treasures.
Footnote for adult readers aloud: do go back to the library shelves and have a chuckle over the titles on the FLYING BOOKS shelves. ‘Pigs Might Fly’ ‘Fly on Flying, ‘Moon’s a Balloon’ and many more gems thereon.

Use your local bookshop    localbookshops_NameImage-2

Bothersome Bedtimes: Max at Night and Whiffy Wilson

jillrbennett Leave a comment

DSCN5620 (800x600)

Max at Night
Ed Vere
Puffin Books
It’s Max’s bedtime – long past it in fact and he’s very sleepy, but having performed his ablutions and started his round of goodnights, he can’t snuggle down just yet. The moon is nowhere to be seen and he must bid it goodnight.

DSCN5621 (800x600)

Off he goes outside to try and get a different view. There are stars aplenty but still no visible lunar presence so he tries going a little higher. No sign of the moon still and no sound from the sleeping canine. There’s a tall, tall tree that might help though.

DSCN5622 (800x600)

The only response to Max’s “Goodnight tree… Do you know where I can find Moon?’ is a rustle. Oh dear Max, seems you’re having a frustrating time.
But undaunted ,our lovable feline goes ever higher – up the tallest building and then the highest of high hills where he receives just a whistle in the wind. Ah ha!
Max is at the end of his tether: “Mooooooooon! Where are yoooouu?” he howls and hearing his call, that wind blows and blows and blows and suddenly there from out of the clouds emerges …

DSCN5623 (800x600)
After a rewarding lunar encounter, it’s a very tired but very happy Max that climbs all the way back down and finally up his own stairs to …

DSCN5624 (800x600)

I think he earned that sleep and so did my audience of 4s to 7s who shared the story with me: the indomitable Max got a round of applause – for his perseverance I suspect as well as to express their satisfaction with this super follow up to Max the Brave.
A wonderful colour palette – warm and atmospheric, Ed Vere’s wit and off-beat illustrative style, and an increasingly endearing protagonist make this another winner for Max and his creator. Great endpapers too.

DSCN5587 (800x600)

Whiffy Wilson the wolf who wouldn’t go to bed
Caryl Hart and Leonie Lord
Orchard Books
This is another treat featuring lively lupine, Wllson and the ever-helpful Dotty. Herein young Wilson wolf is more than a little averse to bedtime; he’d far rather be playing one of his many musical instruments,

DSCN5588 (800x600)

singing at the top of his voice or doing one of the numerous other important jobs he loves to do, like lining up his cars or building with his blocks.
Looks as though it’s down to his friend and neighbor, Dotty to teach him about the importance of rest and relaxation – after a spot of tidying up that is.

DSCN5589 (800x600)

And in pretty much no time at all, the canny young miss has Wilson fed, bathed and in his PJs with teeth brushed, ready for a bedtime story. DSCN5590 (800x600)

But the best thing of all is that after a wonderful night’s sleep, there he stands on Dotty’s doorstep with a special ‘thank you’ breakfast treat …

DSCN5591 (800x600)

A fun rhyming story to share at bedtime – or just before – particularly with those youngsters who, like Wilson, come up with all manner of delaying tactics when it comes to getting ready for bed. If you’ve not met Wilson before do take this opportunity to do so with this latest episode. Leonie Lord’s spirited illustrations are full of humour and playfulness.

Use your local bookshop    localbookshops_NameImage-2

Don’t miss the Children’s Book Illustration Autumn Exhibition at Waterstones, Piccadilly 23rd-29th October

C090B987-9FD4-47C9-A6E5-CEEE0DD83F4E[6]

Characters Bold and Not So Bold

jillrbennett Leave a comment

 

DSCN4857 (800x600)

I’m A Girl
Yasmeen Ismail
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Let’s hear it for the wonderful female protagonist – an aardvark I think –  in Yasmeen Ismail’s latest book. She’s messy, super fast, brave, spontaneous and an independent thinker and doer.

DSCN4855 (800x600)

She’s a great music maker, likes to play games of all kinds

DSCN4856 (800x600)

and is determined to be the BEST. She is – in her own words – “sweet and sour, not a little flower!” But, she has a hard time convincing others of her gender. “I’m a girl!” she asserts at every wrong assumption, and there are many.
Then she makes friends with another person who is also determined to be true to his own nature

DSCN4854 (800x600)

… and it’s time for a celebration of individuality.
Brilliantly exuberant, funny and full of joy: a book to cherish. If only all children had the confidence to be true to themselves like the girl and her new-found friend herein.
If I had my way a copy would be given to all young children before they start school or nursery.
DSCN4772 (800x600)

Max the Brave
Ed Vere
Puffin Books
Meet kitten Max. Despite appearances he’s a fearless mouse chaser, or would be if only he knew what a mouse looked like. He decides to do a search; but encounters with Fly, Fish, birds, Elephant and Rabbit all of whom have had sightings, yields nothing. Or so it seems despite …

DSCN4773 (800x600)

But the wily animal professes to be a Monster, so what about this slumbering creature?

DSCN4774 (800x600)

Time to find out Max …

DSCN4775 (800x600)

Oops! Perhaps Mouse chasing isn’t quite what you’d anticipated fearless one: Monsters instead, perhaps?
I’m a great fan of Ed Vere (of Banana fame). Here, his clever use of space, a bold, flat colour palette and minimalist style sit well with the direct, dead pan narrative that is delivered largely through Max’s internal dialogue and his interactions with the animals he meets.
A great one to share and I anticipate multiple re-readings will be the order of the day (or night). Equally, it’s a super story for emergent readers to try for themselves.

Use your local bookshop   localbookshops_NameImage-2