Children’s books review #1

What’s this all about?

Reading books with young children is a special joy for parents, and of course it’s a great opportunity for toddlers to learn new words, understand the idea of stories, and expand their creativity and imagination. I’ll blog once a month or so with a round-up of interesting books that have been a hit – or sometimes a miss – with our own kids, as well as news of forthcoming titles and anything else book-related that occurs. As our oldest is only just over two, the focus will be on books for very young readers.

But first, a word about book buying in Cyprus

Some parents have complained about the expense of buying English language books in Cyprus. Yes, if you go to stores that are mainly gadget or toy shops – naming no names! – their titles are really astonishingly overpriced. However, it’s always worth popping into the Academic and General Bookshop (41 Ermou Ave, Shop 2, 6023 Larnaka, telephone 24628401), as they have some very good deals. Also, there is an excellent children’s section towards the back of the shop, and nothing beats letting children loose to find their own books – especially when the bookshop owners are helpful and tolerant, as they are here. The only other really great children’s section for English books I’ve seen is in Soloneion (24 Vyzantiou Street, 2064 Strovolos, Cyprus, telephone 22 666 799), but of course that’s a bit further afield. Other recommendations gratefully received!

Naturally, the internet’s often the cheapest option when you have specific titles in mind. Most people will be aware of Amazon.co.uk and Play.com, but both have high shipping costs that annoyingly aren’t factored in until the final bill is calculated. For that reason I strongly recommend The Book Depository, which not only has good prices for “as new” books, but also makes no additional charges beyond the original price quoted for the book. Other sites such as abebooks.com or alibris.co.uk are also good for finding older or more obscure titles.

Reviews

Orange Pear Apple Bear
Emily Gravett
Simon & Schuster, 2007
ISBN: 978-1416939993

It sounds unworkable: a book consisting of just five words, all nouns, which are repeatedly jiggled about into new combinations. But the simplicity of the idea shouldn’t detract from the brilliance of the execution. You begin with the four objects of the title. On the next page, the apple and the pear still appear – but now the bear is orange! And so on, each page bringing a new, absurd image (“apple bear” is a favourite of my daughter’s), until the fruit are consumed and the bear leaves with a triumphant “There!” There are two great things about this book. Firstly, the delicate watercolouring, which you can see in the cover image, really draws the young reader in and explains the humour of the concept to them. Secondly, the language games show toddlers, whose main problem in expression is exactly lack of vocabulary, just how you can make a small number of words dance in interesting ways. A real triumph and highly recommended.

Tyrannosaurus Drip
Julia Donaldson (words), David Roberts (art)
Pan Children, 2008.
ISBN: 978-0230015500

If you don’t already have books by the current British Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson on your child’s bookshelves, both of you are missing out. At the very least, make sure to get hold of the near-ubiquitous Gruffalo, a near-perfect new story that has the deep resonances of traditional fairy stories. Donaldson, who mostly writes in verse for this age-group, has a lovely command of rhyme and meter, and knows how to write in such a way as to direct the reading parent’s voice. You can’t help but growl out the lines of the evil Tyrannosaurus father (and those of his grim and grisly bride), while Drip himself – a vegetarian duckbilled dinosaur unwittingly raised by carnivores – is a rebel of the best kind whose lines stay just the right side of sanctimonious. For proof of Donaldson’s skill, just look at the way that every significant word comes either at the end of a line or at the beat in its centre. Very nervous young readers might find some of the imagery of the bone-strewn tyrannosaurus nest a little strong, but this is a fun tale with dinosaurs for children and some really positive moral lessons for the grown-ups to enjoy.

Coming to Tea
Sarah Garland
Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2008
(Originally published 1985 by Bodley Head)
ISBN: 978-1845077235

Two mothers with young children live next door to each other. One family invites the other round for tea. They prepare the food, then the older children play in the sandpit. Tea itself is interrupted by rain, but all is rescued and the two mums enjoy a long conversation. This is one of those books in which very little out of the ordinary happens – but of course toddlers enjoy reading about ordinary life just as much as they do about fantastic adventures. What I adore about this book is the controlled chaos of both households, which makes them seem very real to anyone who’s wrangled multiple children into useful activities. Each page is bursting with domestic detail (Garland’s dogs, cat and rabbit are all naturalistic delights) and your child will keep finding new things to point out each time. Although some of the fashions are a little bit dated (those dungarees! That spiky hair!), this is a lovely way to give British migrant children a real sense of British houses, lives and weather.

by James Mackay
LPN Dad

“James Mackay is Lecturer in Comparative Studies at European University Cyprus”