To this end Sally Williams and Nicholas Tucker The Independent’s two regular children’s book reviewers have chosen the very best
To this end, Sally Williams and Nicholas Tucker, The Independent’s two regular children’s book reviewers, have chosen the very best of the year’s offerings, from simple, indestructible board books for babies to challenging, dramatic novels for adolescents and young teenagers. Read on…Don’t be deceived by the graphic simplicity of this sturdy board book. It’s part of a series of four that introduces some complex ideas to babies: making animal noises, banging a drum, and blowing bubbles. Beyond the pictures of chubby toddlers and succinct clear lessons is a sympathetic understanding of the needs of this young audience.How much: pounds 3.50 (Walker)2GRUNTER: THE STORY OF A PIG WITH ATTITUDEBy Mike Jolley, illus Deborah AllwrightGrunter, the pig with “shocking wind”, is rude, selfish, and needs to be taught a lesson. He has “flattened the farmer, spat on the cat – and dropped something dirty on the duck”! A joyously rumbustious read, and the pictures strut with self-confidence.
Features an explosive pop-up (pictured, right) and a huge typeface; while the noxious porker meets a very gratifying end. Or does he?How much: pounds 9.99 (Templar)3SUSAN LAUGHSBy Jeanne Willis, illus Tony Ross Even without the startling ending, this would be a great book – the last page turns it into an out-standing one Susan laughs, she sings She gets angry, she gets sad She is good, she is bad. In fact, Susan is no different from any other child – except… A book of great depth that moves and teaches, but never turns a fact into an issue.
How much: pounds 9.99 (Andersen)4HAIR IN FUNNY PLACESBy Babette Cole Wickedly funny, Babette Cole is the sort of adult sometimes more popular with children than with parents, who might be embarrassed at her total and exuberant lack of shame. Her latest title shows how Mr and Mrs Hormone set about changing two pleasant -year-olds of either sex into hairy, spotty, smelly adolescents who finally meet and become the parents of the child spotted on the first and last page. Anatomical detail is not spared, but no one could stay offended for long with this most entertaining of picture books. How much: pounds 9.99 (Jonathan Cape)5KIT’S WILDERNESSBy David Almond David Almond is a writer with a gift for establishing instant atmosphere. In Kit’s Wilderness, he mixes past and present for a tense story in which a young new arrival to an old mining area finds himself trapped in bitter, ancient disputes. With some help from the supernatural, everything finally works out, but with plenty of high suspense along the way.
