Monday, 29 May 2017

Pete's Magic Pants - Pirate Peril by Paddy Kempshall & Chris Chatterton




"In a wobbly old wardrobe, in the attic of Crooked Carrot farm, a special suitcase lay hidden for many years." And so begins the story of Pete's Magic Pants - Pirate Peril. Hero Pete puts on the pirate style pants from the suitcase and goes on a pirate adventure helping the crew of the Flying Fowl to find Long John Silverside's secret cave in an attempt to retrieve their treasure that has been stolen. The story then ends back in the attic, like the whole adventure could have been a dream.

This is a nice picture book with nice colourful and clear pictures. First thing I noticed is that is doesn't rhyme like a lot of picture books similar to this do. The author does put a lot of alliteration into it though. And the idea may not be original, putting on magic clothing taking you on an adventure associated with it, but it gives the opportunity for a whole load of "Pete's Magic Pants" stories to be written. 

There are also some stickers which are more pirate-related than pants-related thankfully, although there are still some pants stickers that you'll have to explain away to visitors who notice them on your walls. 

Overall then, the book is decent enough.



Saturday, 6 May 2017

Little One by Jo Weaver #bookreview


Book review: First impressions of this are great. It is a big, wide book (27cm by 27cm) with the title on the cover being in gold, whilst the rest of the book is black and white with the same charcoal art used as on the cover throughout. Flicking through there are little details to add to the luxury, like the airborne dandelion seeds on the inside covers. 

I read this with my 6-year-old daughter. The story follows the first year in the life of "Little One" through all four seasons. It makes a comforting bedtime story for little ones as mother bear is always with Little One every step of the way, and they snuggle up to each other at the end, as the cold descends. My daughter says the book is "good and they go on an adventure".

Perhaps if I was being critical I would say it is short, but I like the art and the story and the feel of the book.