I had read this book as a child, so it was an easy addition to my nephews and mine reading collection. I loved the book then and I really enjoyed it now, as to me it strikes the right balance between text and illustration while managing to tell a complete story in a condensed form.
The book features characters from well-known children’s stories linked in a tenuous fashion across two -line rhyming couplets. Each page features a beautiful illustration that encourages the child reading the book with you to look closer and see what hidden features they can see. My favourite is Robin Hood reading in the forest, while in the background the three bears walk past. The youngest is clearly not to be trusted, as for the second time in a few pages he has managed to fire his shotgun as he trips. It is so cleverly done, that I didn’t notice it the first time I read it, it was only upon returning to the page that I saw it.
I loved the book then and I enjoy it now, so it is easy for me to recommend it. As I stated above, the illustrations are so cleverly done it takes several viewings to notice everything on the page. A sensible thing, as anyone who has a read a book to a child will acknowledge, since you never get to read a favourite story just once. It’s difficult to get my nephews thoughts as he is only 8 months old, but this too get a good chewing, so for younger readers I’d also recommend that you go for the cardboard backed version over the paperback as it will probably last longer.
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