Childrens’ books
The Smallest Bear gets the brush-off from the older bears when he asks to share their honey. “Every bear must find his own honey,” he is told. But, as in all good stories, fate provides. When Mouse sets off on a journey, all sorts of dangers come his way, but as the title says — It Could have been Worse. The other two stories concern a sleepy sloth and a rubbish-collecting hedgehog. Delightful bedtime read-aloud.
Nick Sharratt’s loud, distinctive illustrations are always sure to attract pre-schoolers. Shark in the Dark, a sequel to Shark in the Park, will delight his followers. At bedtime a boy scans the world outside with his telescope. Could that triangular shape be a shark? Turn the page — it’s a luminous sail on a distant yacht. And so it goes. Told in jaunty rhyme and full of humour — especially the nice twist at the end — this is one for ages four and up to read in the half-light for full effect.
