Christmas books from Mick Inkpen

In order to celebrate the Christmas holidays, I have chosen to write some reviews on three books by one of my favourite authors and illustrators Mick Inkpen. They are all ideal for the Christmas season and will appeal to both children and adults alike.

 Title: Kipper’s Christmas Eve

Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Published: 1999
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy
Paperback printed October 2014

This is one of the instalments in the much-loved “Kipper” series, which I adored as a child and still love. As Kipper goes off to find the perfect Christmas tree and invites his friends Tiger, Pig and Arnold round to his house, the book aims to answer the important question – which is best, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? This is a very funny and warm-hearted story with timeless illustrations to match, with the added bonus of a cute little mouse that follows Kipper around after he finds the perfect Christmas tree. The last page of the original hardback is particularly delightful, with a flashing red light located on the reindeer hat that Arnold wears as he looks out of the window in anticipation for Father Christmas.

Title: Kipper’s Snowy Day

Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Published: 2015 (reissue)
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

Another brilliant instalment in the “Kipper” series, this book involves everyone's favourite dog building a snowman with the help of his friend Tiger, who has chosen to wear some funny looking accessories for keeping warm in the cold. Many funny antics occur whilst he wears these garments, which are eventually used to decorate the snowman. This all culminates in a wonderful picture of the snowman at night time as the snow continues to fall down near the end of the story. Like the other “Kipper” book, this is also a humorous text with the same liveliness in its illustrations, with the friends taking part in snowball fights and building the snowman to look just like Kipper.

 

Title: Threadbear

Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Published: 2007
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

This book is themed around toys and mainly focuses on Threadbear, a teddy bear whose squeaker does not work because his toymaker filled him up with too much stuffing. In order to solve this problem, the other toys recommend that he visits Father Christmas and what follows is a magical journey. The amusing narrative and the timeless pictures pair perfectly together to create a brilliant picture book with a satisfying ending for both the audience and the characters. It is not hard to see why, like the “Kipper” series, this story has also gone on to be a picture book classic.

 

Christmas Classics

As Christmas Day approaches, we all love to read books to get ourselves into the spirit of the holidays. These three books are well-loved classics and I always like to read them during this time of year.

 

 

Title: A Christmas Carol

Author: Charles Dickens
Illustrator: Quentin Blake
Publisher: Pavilion Children's Books
Published: 2008
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

This book is already a Christmas classic, but this beautiful edition with Quentin Blake's illustrations is a definite favourite of mine. A lot of people find Dickens hard to read but this story is shorter than most of his other novels. Additionally, the lively pictures make the tale easy to follow and help to introduce children to his novels. In this story, the cynical miser Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve and learns the true meaning of Christmas: embracing the spirit of it and giving to the less fortunate. There is a wide variety of memorable characters including Scrooge himself and the innocent Tiny Tim to whom he gradually becomes closer, eventually becoming like a second father.

 

 

Title: Eloise at Christmastime

Author: Kay Thompson
Illustrator: Hilary Knight
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 1999
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

This lively and vibrant book tells the story of Eloise, a lively young girl who lives in a hotel with her nanny and how she is getting into the spirit of the Christmas holidays. The story is told in rhyme with a recurring musical theme throughout and the pictures are full of energy, with the simplistic colour palette of red, black and white making them stand out. The cast itself is also memorable and endearing, with other characters such as the Nanny, Eloise's pets and the friends who live inside and outside the hotel celebrating with the protagonist. This has to be my favourite instalment in the classic Eloise series.

Title: The Night Before Christmas

Author: Clement C Moore
Illustrator: Arthur Rackham
Publisher: Chancellor Press
Published: 1985
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

Originally called “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”, this classic narrative poem tells the story of a father who witnesses Father Christmas visit his family home on Christmas Eve. The event is described in full detail, with vibrant descriptions of Father Christmas himself and what he does upon arriving at the house. The rhyming makes the poem fun to read and its fast pace perfectly matches the lively mood of Christmas. I especially recommend the edition with illustrations by Arthur Rackham or the pop-up retelling by Robert Sabuda.

Title: The Night Before Christmas

Author: Clement C Moore
Illustrator: Robert Sabuda
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2002
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

Hello Mr Dodo

Title: Hello Mr Dodo
Author: Nicholas John Frith
Publisher:  Alison Green Books (Scholastic)
Published: 2016
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

Recently, Nicholas John Frith was the winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize for his first picture book “Hector And The Hummingbird”. “Hello, Mr Dodo!” is the second picture book that he has released.

The protagonist of the story is a young girl named Martha, who is fascinated by birds and knows about every single one of them that lives behind her house in the woods. That is until she discovers a dodo behind her house, a species of bird that was originally thought to be extinct. Martha decides to protect the bird and soon makes friends with it, discovering new facts about dodos, such as the fact that they apparently like doughnuts. Everything seems to be going well for a while…until one day when the postman arrives.

This story is really funny and will delight many readers of any age. The pictures are especially endearing and have a timeless feel to them, with both Martha and the dodo looking absolutely adorable. Different types of birds are introduced throughout the story, with the last page featuring a checklist of birds that Martha has seen along with drawings of them. There is an especially interesting scene in which Martha looks up dodos in her books at home and the audience is treated to passages from these books on the history of dodos, introducing them to these once-existing birds.

Overall, this is a very charming picture book that children and their parents will enjoy reading over and over again. The timeless quality to it makes it appealing to all ages alike and the audience is able to learn about dodos and their history as a result, as well as enjoy the sweet story. Once again, Frith has managed to write an entertaining and heartwarming book that explores the theme of friendship like Hector and The Hummingbird.

 

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam The Diamond Chase

Title: Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam The Diamond Chase
Author: Tracey Corderoy
Illustrator: Steve Lenton
Publisher:  Nosy Crow
Published: 2016
Format: Hardback/Paperback
Source: My own copy

This is the third book in the “Shifty McGifty And Slippery Sam” series by Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton, following the adventures of our two protagonists after they have given up their life of crime and gone into the cake-making business. In this instalment, they must take up the roles of not only bakers, but also detectives.

The bakers have been asked to provide the treats for Lady Kate's birthday party, which her energetic nephew Barnaby is also attending. They are successful in preparing the treats for the party guests despite Barnaby getting in the way at times and everything seems to be going well…until Lady Kate appears and reveals that someone has stolen her diamond tiara! Shifty and Sam instantly volunteer to help, but the thief will prove to be a hard one to catch. Like the other two books beforehand, this story is told in rhyme which will appeal and entertain a wide audience, especially one consisting of young children. It also has the same level of excitement as the other stories, which definitely got me reading further and wanting to find out whether the tiara is retrieved in the end. Additionally, the illustrations provided by Lenton continue to be expressive and delightful, capturing the mood of the characters perfectly.

This is another fantastic instalment in the series with brand new characters that children will love as well as familiar ones such as the lovable Scottie dog. This will definitely appeal to fans of the first two books as well as new readers, especially ones that love a good detective story and adventure.

Mango and Bambang The Not-a-Pig

Title: Mango and Bambang The Not-a-Pig
Author: Polly Faber
Illustrator: Clara Vulliamy
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 2015
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

This is the first book to be released by Polly Faber as well as the first book in the “Mango & Bambang” series. It contains illustrations by Clara Vulliamy and its sequel “Mango & Bambang: Tapir All At Sea” has recently been released.

 

The book contains four short stories, starting with the time Mango Allsorts saves a tapir named Bambang who is quivering on a zebra crossing, causing a traffic jam. From then on, they get into all sorts of exciting adventures around the city, including at the swimming pool and at a concert hall. All of these stories are very entertaining and involve a lot of humour in them that people of all ages can enjoy. There are plenty of memorable characters in the cast including the titular characters themselves, the evil collector Cynthia Prickle-Posset and George, a boy who loves sweets but hates baths. Whilst Mango saves Bambang at the start of the book it soon becomes obvious that he has also changed her life for the better as well. This is a story about the value of true friends and the difference they make to each other's lives.

 

The pictures have a classical look to them that reminded me a little bit of “Milly Molly Mandy” and Bambang looks endearing in them, especially when wearing one of his beloved hats. Mango and Bambang have particularly expressive faces that tell you everything you need to know about their personalities. One lift of an eyebrow and you know exactly how they are feeling. Additionally, a simplistic colour palette consisting of purple, black and white has been used that helps to grab the attention of the reader.

 

I absolutely loved these short stories and I hope you do too. The writing and characters helped to draw my attention in as well as the fun illustrations on every page. The book is perfect for young children starting to read alone for the first time, bridging the gap between picture books and longer stories. I can't wait to read its sequel and any other books that Faber and Vulliamy have to offer in the future.

 

 

 

 

The Island

Title: The Island

Author: Olivia Levez
Publisher: Rock the Boat
Publication date: March 2016
Format: Paperback
Source: ARC

Having read a couple of books from Rock the Boat last year I jumped at the chance to receive one of their new books to review. I chose “The Island” because I read “Lord of the Flies” for my GCSE and thought it would be interesting to compare the two.

Frances, “only people I like call me Fran”, has done something terrible. So terrible that, in her own words, she is a monster. She has been given the chance of joining a new project for first time offenders, working with communities on a remote Indonesian island rebuilding their environment whilst learning survival skills. However the tiny plane carrying the group to the island crashes into the sea during a storm. Frances survives the crash and lands alone, or so she thinks, on a deserted island. Having failed to pay attention during the training sessions she struggles at first, but soon discovers an inner strength which helps her to survive and also to come to terms with her past.

At first Frances comes across as an unsympathetic character. She is rude and aggressive to everyone around her, appearing to take pleasure in hurting those who are trying to help her. Then, as the story flashes back and forth, we start to learn about her life before she lands on the island and what has made her into the monster she believes herself to be. As she starts to develop her survival skills she becomes the person she could have been if she had been given a better start in life. There are still flashes of the old aggressive Frances, but these happen less often. She begins to come to terms with what has happened to her and finally has hope for her future.

I loved this book. The writing is poetical and so beautiful. Each chapter is short, sometimes only a couple of lines, but tells you more in a few words than great long paragraphs could. As you get to know Frances you can't help but feel sympathy for her and want her to do well. I so wanted her to make it back so she could have a fresh start back with her beloved little brother. However Levez doesn't take the easy, more obvious options. Some people may be disappointed that there isn't a neat tidy ending, but I think the book is much better for it. I would have felt let down if it had ended any other way. I can't wait to read what Levez has to offer us in the future.

Timmy Failure Mistakes Were Made

Title: Timmy Failure Mistakes Were Made
Author: Stephan Pastis
Publisher:  Walker
Published: 2013
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

This is the first book in the "Timmy Failure" series. There are another three books in the shops already and a fifth on the way later this year.

Timmy is the head of the detective agency Failure, Inc. and aims to achieve success as a detective, but many obstacles stand in his way, including his mother, his grumpy teacher Old Man Crocus and, most of all, his own ego. The characters are very amusing and Timmy, who owns a pet polar bear that he calls Total, reminds me of the eponymous Calvin from “Calvin And Hobbes”. Being a big fan of this comic strip, this made Timmy an engaging and funny character to me from the start. Other characters that play an important role in the story and that I found amusing include his friend Rollo, his unwanted admirer Molly Moskins and his nemesis Corrina Corrina, who also runs a detective agency. Furthermore, the illustrations that accompany the story are drawn in a cartoon style similar to Stephan Pastis' comic strip “Pearls Before Swine” and fit really well with the text. I feel that children and their parents will like these pictures and find them appealing, adding to their enjoyment of the text.

Overall, I found this to be an extremely funny book and just as hilarious as “Pearls Before Swine”. The storyline features several wacky hi-jinks, the characters are amusing and the pictures will appeal to all. This is a must-read if you enjoy books that make you laugh out loud, especially if you are a fan of “Pearls Before Swine” and “Calvin And Hobbes”.

Pugs of the Frozen North

Title: Pugs of the Frozen North
Author: Philip Reeve
Illustrator: Sarah McIntyre
Publisher: OUP
Published: 2015
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

 

“Pugs Of The Frozen North” is the third book created by both Phillip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre, and I was lucky enough to attend a workshop focusing on it at the Guardian Offices in London. The book contains the same humour and depth as their first two collaborations “Oliver And The Seawigs” and “Cakes In Space”.

After the Lucky Star is crushed by ice, the cabin boy Shen escapes with 66 pugs and meets up with Sika, who plans to enter the Great Northern Race so that she can ask the Snowfather to cure her grandfather. Upon entering the race with the pugs taking the place of huskies, they find themselves up against a colourful cast of contestants and encountering snow trolls, sea monsters and noodle-eating yetis. The story contains many memorable characters including the adorable pugs themselves that help the heroes to make it through the race. Some of the contestants in the race remind me of characters from the classic TV series “Wacky Races”; for example, the moustache-twirling antagonist brings to mind the memorable villain Dick Dastardly. However, this is intertwined with an original plotline by Reeve in order to create a new and fascinating story that will appeal to all ages, not just fans of “Wacky Races”. Additionally, McIntyre includes stunning drawings on every page, which help to engage the child even more with the already amazing storytelling. The end papers have pictures of all the 66 adorable pugs in the book, along with their names. I had great fun trying to work out who they were named after, with some more obvious than others (Ardagh for example).

In conclusion, I love this book as much as I love Reeve and McIntyre's previous two books and would recommend this to people of all ages. Both of the creators have achieved in producing a well-written story with beautiful illustrations that you will want to read over and over again.