Tag Michael Catchpool

Jake Takes Charge

jillrbennett Leave a comment

Jake Takes Charge
Michael Catchpool, illustrated by Shanarama
Otter-Barry Books

This is the second book about Jake, his family and friends who live in Maple Street. After an introduction to the characters there are four short stories: The Surprise Party, The Christmas Performance, A Great Adventure and That was Lucky!

The first story sees Jake and his brother heading to the park early one morning with Grandpa who lives in a flat below the home of Jake, younger brother Sam and elder sister Ellie and their parents. This is so Mum and Dad can make preparations for the party they are going to have as a surprise celebration for Grandpa’s birthday. When the three arrive at the park they find a sign saying that the play area is closed for repairs; Grandpa wants to go straight home but Jake hastily invents a delaying tactic, but will it give those at home sufficient time to get the party plans completed? Happily yes and a great time ensues.

In the second story, Jake is disappointed at being chosen as a shepherd rather than being allocated a star part in his school Christmas nativity play. Having accepted the role, thanks in no small way to Grandpa, Jake practises his lines and come the day of the performance, Jake’s little brother Sam mistakes the toy lamb for his own almost identical one and that causes an interesting diversion. How will the audience react?

A Great Adventure introduces readers to Algie, the bear that members of Jake’s class take turns to look after for the weekend. When it’s Jake’s turn, he wants to do something exciting but everybody seems too busy. Again Sam gets involved in the events that follow but so too does a very lively dog. Will it perhaps turn out to be an exciting adventure after all?

Jayden is Jake’s buddy from school and when he comes over the two play in Jake’s bedroom. The boys get rather excited; can the visit end without serious damage being done enabling them do decide That Was Lucky…

With Shanarama’s black and white illustrations on every spread, this is an ideal early chapter book for new solo readers, but equally the stories are great for reading aloud at home or in a Foundation Stage setting.

Jake in the Middle / My Happy Life

jillrbennett Leave a comment

Jake in the Middle
Michael Catchpool, illustrated by Shanarama
Otter-Barry Books

This is the first of the new Maple Street series and what a delight it is.

Meet Jake, who is the central character of four short stories. His family comprises his mum and dad, older sister, Ellie, younger brother, Sam and Grandpa who has his own flat downstairs. The stories are interlinked and are in order Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!, Catch of the Day, The Class Museum and All Fall Down!

In the first story Jake is excited about his new trainers, but Sam also loves them and this causes upsets on both sides. When Grandpa discovers there’s a shoe issue, he comes up with a plan. Will it work?
Catch of the Day takes place on a Saturday: Jake, Grandpa and Sam visit the city farm and Sam’s soft toy, Coco ends up in the wrong place a couple of times.
In the third story, Jake’s teacher asks class members to bring items for a class museum – something old and special to them. Jake borrows something without asking and then it disappears …
In the final story, the discovery of Grandpa’s old cricket bat in his shed leads to some family fun.

There’s an illustration by Shanarama on every spread; her depiction of the characters enhances the author’s sensitive portrayal of the relationships between the characters.
Ideal for new solo readers.

My Happy Life
Rose Lagercantz, illustrated by Eva Ericsson
Gecko Press

This reissue of a story was first published over fifteen years ago and is translated from its original Swedish by Julia Marshall. Herein we meet young Dani and read of some of the ups and downs of her life, a vital one being when she starts school, something she has been eagerly anticipating. On the way with her Dad, she suddenly becomes scared: What if she doesn’t make any friends? Happily though, on the second day Dani meets Ella who quickly becomes her best friend.

However at the start of her second term Dani’s happiness turns to unhappiness when she learns that Ella is moving away. Things will never be the same again despite her father’s best efforts, his daughter still feels sad and shows it by becoming angry at school. Fortunately though things improve and one day Dani receives a letter. She responds and soon after happiness returns and a new chapter is about to begin in Dani’s happy life.

A gentle tale full of emotion that is brought out even more through Eva Eriksson’s black and white illustrations. There’s a lot to discuss after sharing, this with an individual or class and it’s also ideal for new solo readers. I loved the idea of children counting their happy times but was less happy to read that one parent bribed her child with money to get him to school on the first day.

SuperJoe Does Not Do Cuddles

jillrbennett Leave a comment

SuperJoe Does Not Do Cuddles
Michael Catchpool and Emma Proctor
Lantana Publishing

Life as a young superhero able to do pretty much anything is hard work, that’s the conviction of SuperJoe; he’s equally sure though that superheroes don’t do cuddles – even from their mums. Well, let’s see …

Despite having to wear his scarf (Mum insists on that), in just one day SuperJoe rescues tourists from a ferocious and very hungry tiger, (that’s before tea);

stops a runaway train, (that’s before bath time) and saves people crossing a collapsing bridge over a raging river in the depths of the jungle (just before bed),

each of these potential calamities being engineered by his arch nemesis, the Grey Shadow.

Before he sets out on each undertaking, our young superhero evades his Mum’s attempts to get a cuddle although at her behest, he does have to don a vest, a belt to keep up his superhero shorts and, that scarf.

Come bedtime however, a sleepless Joe, having eschewed a warm drink, decides that there is just one thing that he really, really needs, something he must never let Grey Shadow know about…

What a lovely story of independent thinking, the power of the imagination and maternal love, this gently humorous book will delight young would-be superheroes as well as their parents/carers. Emma Proctor’s illustrations wittily and cleverly complement Michael Catchpool’s telling, showing for instance, the uses to which SuperJoe puts the items his mum insists he ‘wears’, and those double bedtime scenes reveal much too.