Review Wistfully illustrated (Bournemouth Daily Echo)Giants, it turns out, are not so different from us after all - a twist that will give three-to-five-year-olds something to ponder. Maland's distinctive illustrations are a treat too. (FT Magazine)A clever story, not just about fear of the unknown but of the dangers of prejudice (Cork Evening Echo)And this is a tale of prejudice and how stressful the whole blasted business of judgementalism is. Never too early to drill a little open-mindedness into your fledgling dictators, especially if the verse isn't of the cringe-inducing variety. I mean, this actually scans. And the message is as succinct as its attractive illustrations. (The Bookseller Crow, Families Magazine)Reviews on Mij Kelly's previous book: *...wonderfully wayward illustrations...  - The Sunday Telegraph  18/07/2004*...a funny take on the counting game, accompanied by jazzy knockabout pictures that will have children squealing with laughter.  - The Mail on Sunday  18/07/2004*Funny, cute and quirky.  - Bournemouth Daily Echo  21/08/2004*Defying all stereotypes of being merely silly and woolly, these 10 quick-witted sheep with attitude see off the cunning wolf when Sam, their foolish owner, threatens to let him in... Mij Kelly's rhyming text has terrific panache, while Russell Ayto's illustrations - especially the ones of the sheep in their stripey socks and nightcaps - are hugely engaging.  - The Guardian  10/07/2004*What with Mij's powerful words and Russell's dramatic illustrations, there seems little chance of anyone reading this story without expression. In fact, the combination of interaction, lively characterisation and dramatic build-up, make it a perfect storyb (miscellaneous)On Nick Maland's previous book, Snip Snap:*Nick Maland's clever perspectives make the alligator increasingly alarming as he swells to fill more and more of the page in this well-created story of facing down fear.  - The Guardian  10/04/2005*Using elements of rhythm and rhyme as well as an enjoyably predicable question-and-answer refrain the text maintains a playful tone beneath the scary details... Expressive line drawings, brightened with watercolour washes, illustrate the story with wit and style... good fun.  - Booklist  *Winner of Blue Parent's Choice Award. (miscellaneous) Book Description An original and timely story about the dangers of stereotypes. See all Product description
L**E
Five Stars
good quality. delivered quickly.
K**S
Fun tale about giants (or is it?)
Best appreciated by older children (older than my three year old). We liked it. But he also found some parts a little puzzling and he would definitely appreciate it in a year or two's time.Great idea: two people are walking through the forest when one spots a giant. He doesn't look so bad... But her companion says giants are terrible... Who will be right?My son didn't appreciate the nuances of the story but did like the fact that one little person couldn't see the giant (in a pantomime 'he's behind you!' manner).This is a great KS1 class read - lots to talk about with regards to perspective, fear of the unknown, difference. The rhyming text bounces along nicely. I want personally keen on the illustrations but that's by the by.Loved the ending, but again best appreciated with age.
M**Y
Gentle Morality Tale with a Twist
This book tells the story of Sweet Pea and Boogaloo, who are walking through the woods on their way to have a picnic when Sweet Pea thinks she spies a giant. She starts asking Boogaloo questions about what giants are like based on the fact that what she sees makes them no different to herself. Boogaloo, who hasn't spotted the giants tells her what he has heard about giants,and how horrible and scary they are. They eventually meet the giant and Boogaloo has to face his prejudice.It is a gentle, poetic story with a strong moral. There is lots of repetition and reinforcement which makes it memorable for kids. My children liked the fact that the illustrations show both sides of the story and really show the difference between the reality and the thought.This is a good story for slightly older children, I would say fours and up would appreciate it, because it invites discussion and comparision with areas of our own lives which younger listeners may not appreciate.
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