Tag Joelle Dreidemy

The Duck Who Came For Dinner

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The Duck Who Came For Dinner
Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dreidemy
Little Tiger

It’s the turn of a fluffy little duck to become the guest in team Steve and Joëlle’s fifth in their series featuring animals who came for dinner. This story begins one windy day when Wolf, Hotpot and their crocodile, Omelette are chasing washing that has been blown off the line. Instead of a garment, Wolf catches a duck who now has a wonky wing and a bumped head. The latter has resulted in memory loss, so Hotpot decides that because she fell from a tree, they’ll call the little duck Apple. They invite her so spend the night with them on account of her wibbly wobbliness and after Wolf has given some first aid to Apple’s wing, they all dine on vegetable soup.

Next morning Apple decides to start flying practice, which proves pretty hair-raising and Wolf suggests that a trip to the river might be a better idea than more flying. Determined to show her independent spirit, Apple waddles boldly up the hill

but in her excitement, she fails to stop at the top and ends up dashing right over and splashing into the river, followed almost immediately by Omelette who proves to be the inferior swimmer.

As the days pass, Apple’s wing becomes stronger but to her distress she still can’t fly very far. Then comes another sudden gust of wind whisking away the washing once again. The mention of the word kite gives Apple an idea.

Next day it’s still windy but it’s Hotpot that is whisked away. Who will come to the rescue? And what will this lead to? …

Existing fans of Wolf and Hotpot’s adventures will love this new one; but whether young children are already familiar with their previous stories matters not: with its unconventional little duck, this is an absolute delight.

The Tiger Who Came For Dinner / The Littlest Elephant

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The Tiger Who Came For Dinner
Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dreidemy
Little Tiger

In this fourth story to feature Wolf, Hotpot the lamb and their crocodile, Omelette, the friends are playing their favourite game of fetch when instead of a stick, Omelette brings back a tiny, soggy lost tiger. Hotpot is keen to keep the little thing but Wolf shakes his head “ … little tiger’s family must live further up the river. We have to take her home,” he says.
Next day off they go and on the way they encounter other animals, all of which think the little cub is a delight.

Omelette however, is not sure and becomes even less so as their journey continues; moreover he is able to recognise crocodile tears.

The following morning the group reaches a cottage – it’s the tiger cub’s home at last – and the little cub had a tricky plan tucked in his fur all the time. Can anybody save the day?

As with previous titles in the series, the importance of friendship is key. Steve and Joelle imbue the characters with warmth and oodles of personality and those already familiar with the other books will gobble up this one; however it matters little if you start here: this witty tale still works as a smashing read aloud.

The Littlest Elephant
Kate Read
Two Hoots

Having just learned to swim, such is Ellie the littlest elephant’s enthusiasm that in her haste to demonstrate her new skill, she charges off to the pool to be first in the water. On the way though, she dislodges chameleon, frightens the frogs, disturbs the monkeys’ mangoes scattering them far and wide, upsets the minibeasts and the birds,

stamps on the tiger’s tail and almost squishes a little mouse. Only then does she stop and pay heed to their warning cries to slow down and watch where she’s going. Time for some apologies realises Ellie, and with them duly accepted, all the animals head off to the swim together, with the littlest pachyderm being mindful of the wise words her new friends have spoken, until they eventually reach the pool.

Now to make the biggest splash EVER!

Kate Read captures Ellie elephant’s excitement beautifully in her bold, bright mixed media illustrations while at the same time portraying the feelings of creatures she encounters on her charge through the jungle equally well. Her story reminds youngsters – indeed all of us – of the the need to slow down sometimes, to be mindful of others , and to show empathy, consideration and kindness towards them; important lessons delivered unobtrusively in a fun picturebook.

The Crocodile Who Came For Dinner

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The Crocodile Who Came For Dinner
Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dreidemy
Little Tiger

Best friends, Hotpot (lamb) and Wolf are out doing a stint of ‘wolfy things’ one night when they come upon a huge egg. Wolf’s first thought is making an omelette, quickly countered by Hotpot’s “No … baby bird.”
Having ascertained from the nest dwellers close by that the egg doesn’t belong to any of them, the friends decide to take it home.
Before you can say, ‘yummy omelette’ the egg cracks and what should pop out but a baby crocodile. There’s only one thing the friends can call it and after discovering that the little creature is omnivorous,

they head off for some shut eye. Guess who makes a bid for Wolf’s bed. Eventually both Wolf and Omelette spend the night snuggled up together on a chair but somehow Omelette makes it to the kitchen first next morning – with chaotic results.

Just as Hotpot and Wolf are preparing to take the newcomer out for a walk, some wolf friends arrive at the door and receive some unexpected affection of the crocish kind. Their game of chase through the woods leads them down the river where Omelette alarms the boating bunnies by diving in for a swim.

Curmudgeonly Badger takes delight in pointing out that while Omelette might be harmless right now, he will grow and grow. Sure enough he does but remains totally lovable to all but Badger.

One night a terrible storm blows up and the forest is flooded. Worse though, Omelette has gone missing but he’s left a trail of footprints that lead to where we see, some baby ducklings are in great danger.
Can they be saved? And if so, by whom? …

Steve’s text is a superb read aloud: I’m sure both listeners and adult readers aloud will find it hilarious. Equally droll are Joelle Dreidemy’s illustrations which contain a wealth of detail and a liberal scattering of speech bubbles in this tale where appearances can be deceptive .

Where’s Will? / Spot the Dinosaur on the Island

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Where’s Will?
Tilly and Anna Claybourne
Ivy Kids

Published a while back but new to this reviewer (thanks to the publishers for sending it now) this is a Shakespearean search-and-find extravaganza that presents the bard in an accessible way for young audiences; and let’s face it none of us is going to be able to see a live performance of any of the plays featured in the foreseeable future.

Anna Claybourne has chosen what are arguably, the ten most popular stories show-casing each one through a context setting summary, for instance ‘Twelfth Night is a comedy, and once again Shakespeare’s plot involves the mix-ups caused by people wearing disguises‘, and a story board outline of its plot, along with its cast, that she and artist, Tilly, present on the first of two spreads.

The second is a busy panoramic scene wherein the characters are hiding in plain sight for readers to find; so too is the playwright himself who insists on putting in an appearance in each of his featured works (as does a pig for some reason).

The original language isn’t retained in the storyboard texts – probably an impossible task – but readers familiar with any of the plays could try choosing an appropriate line or two for each vignette, thus adding a further dimension to using the book.
The artist has chosen different tones for each play, thus helping to capture both the drama’s setting and the spirit of its performance.
Some Shakespeare aficionados will likely throw up their hands in horror at all this, but it’s a case of ‘to see, or not to see’ and this bard enthusiast recommends seeing; it’s a case of the more you look, the more you see.

Books such as this could be a boon in the forthcoming weeks, and this one is surely both immersive and entertaining.

For younger search-and-find enthusiasts try:

Spot the Dinosaur on the Island
Stella Maidment and Joelle Dreidemy
QED

Again not brand new but worth getting hold of and sharing with little ones at that dinosaur-mad age most of them go through.

Herein, Joelle Dreidemy’s alluring, bold, bright scenes offer plenty for youngsters to see including a playful baby T. Rex that hides on every double spread while Stella Maidment’s brief narrative guides users, giving snippets of information throughout the adventure.

We visit first the island in its entirety, followed by a sequence of closer-in views of dinosaurs feeding,

moving, hatching, showing off their protective features and some even enjoy a dip, while others take to the air. Then there are those like Pleiosaurus that actually lived in the sea, so there’s plenty of visual information to absorb, as well as five items to spot on each spread.

The last scene is a busy archaeological dig and this is followed by ‘More to Spot’ – an invitation to take another look, a ‘Did you know?’ page and finally, some crafty fun.

 

The Wolves Who Came for Dinner / The Lamb Who Came for Dinner

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The Wolves Who Came for Dinner
Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dreidemy
Little Tiger

Wolf and Hotpot (who nearly became Wolf’s dinner in a previous story) are now the best of pals much to the puzzlement of the other forest animals.

So when Wolf invites all the bunnies for a playdate and subsequently spends the morning cooking carrot cakes, his greeting of “Teatime!’ has the bunnies fleeing for, so they think, their lives. Poor Wolf is downcast. Hotpot assures Wolf of his goodness and in return Wolf suggests going out to find and play with the bunnies in the forest.

Things don’t go well in the hide-and-seek game; the terrified bunnies make a bolt for it.

Wolf decides to invite his lupine pals to meet Hotpot instead; but when they turn up Gripper, Nipper and Growler have ominously grumbly tums. Wolf however serves up a yummy vegetable soup after which they settle down for a story followed by a snuggly sleep.

Nevertheless the other forest creatures remain convinced Wolf’s friendship with Hotpot is a sham and things turn very soggy for good old Wolf.

Back home, who should be waiting for the two friends but Gripper, Nipper and Growler requesting another story and a sleepover.

So bothered about Hotpot’s fate are the other woodland animals that they stage a further rescue attempt, charging in on the slumberers.

Initially the other wolves are reluctant to drop their stereotypes, offering to consume some of the intruders; but Hotpot stands up for her best pal and all ends satisfactorily like all good stories – and I definitely count this one among them, -with the whole cast of characters living ‘happily ever after.”

Steve’s toothsome tale is a great one for challenging stereotypes and showing that it’s wrong to prejudge others, while simultaneously gently advocating a plant-derived diet. And as someone who eschews animal and dairy products I’m all for this.

Joëlle Dreidemy’s characters are splendidly rendered in her hilarious scenes of the woodland animals as they gradually come to terms with, and overcome, their prejudiced assumptions.

The Lamb Who Came for Dinner
Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dreidemy
Little Tiger

A dozen or so years ago I reviewed in BKF, this story of love and vegetarianism triumphing over Wolf’s inherent carnivorous instincts. I loved it then and do so now with Steve’s super characterisation, deliciously funny text and Joëlle Dreidemy’s droll illustrations.

Now with an accompanying audio CD, a new generation of listeners will relish seeing and hearing of what appears to be a thoroughly menacing Wolf’s first encounter with a freezing cold lamb that comes a-knocking on his door seeking shelter from the elements.

Dino Doings

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Yikes

James was suitably disgusted by this story.

Yikes, Stinkysaurus!
Pamela Butchart and Sam Lloyd
Bloomsbury pbk
Which is the most scary of all the dinosaurs? Not the ones with giant claws, nor those with horns or even spiky tails; not even fearsome tempered T-rex. Meet Stinkysaurus; so malodorous is he that a single whiff can render T-rex unconscious before him. So, what is the cause of the foul smell that emanates from the giant? Not just one cause; indeed his firm refusals to take a bath or brush his teeth are just a start. Stinkysaurus’s sneezes are truly green and goosome and his wind is unbelievably whiffy. Enough is enough, decide the other dinosaurs and together they construct an enormous bath into which Stinky is forcefully shoved.

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The result? A squeaky-clean dinosaur that all the others want to play with; he can even take a swamp romp with his new friends.
With its winning combination of dinosaurs and disgusting habits rendered in new author Pamela Butchart’s rollicking rhyme and Sam Lloyd’s riotous scenes, this is sure to delight young listeners who will be unable to stop themselves showing mock disgust at Stinky’s dreadful doings. Perfume sprays a-ready for an ‘euugh!’- filled storytime.
Buy from Amazon

Another winning combination of dinosaurs and poo (as opposed to pooh! this time) is:

Daniel delighting at Dinosaur Doo

Daniel delighting at Dinosaur Doo

Dinosaur Doo
Andrew Weale and Joelle Dreidemy
Hodder Children’s Books pbk
Young inventor Spark lives in a lovely green valley with his friends. One day their peaceful village life is disturbed by a very large deposit of disgustingly stinky dinosaur doings. But there’s more to come in the form of baby iguanodon’s pea-sized pingy poo,

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stegosaurus’s cannon balls, triceratops’s plip ploppings and an unforgettable shower from brachiosaurus’s rear. Time for some inventive thinking from Spark. After a lot of digging, boulder moving, paper-making (for the botty wipes), tree felling, sawing and constructing, he and his friends have, by sunrise next day, erected a spectacular surprise for the interlopers – a dinosaur loo complete with flush and handy loo roll. Dino delight no less. Is this the end of the problem for Spark and his friends though? Well, not quite, for what are those winged creatures swooping over the hill? Dinosaur birds; and everyone knows what they like to do as they fly …
This terrific tale is told in tongue-tickling rhyme that is fun to read aloud and hilariously illustrated by French artist Joelle Dreidemy. Her scenes with blissed out, pooping dinosaurs and contrastingly horrified villagers are splendid, as are those of the construction site.
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Find and buy from your local bookseller: http://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch

Don’t forget International Book Giving Day is coming up soon.

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