What’s cooking, Jamela? by Niki Daly reviewed by Chitra Soundar

  

It’s Christmas and even if it doesn’t snow in South Africa for Christmas, a chicken meal at the centre of the table is a must. Well that’s what everyone tells Jamela. But Jamela has named her chicken Christmas. And you  know what happens when you name farm animals – they become friends. And of course you can't eat them.

In this wonderfully authentic story that charts the hilarious adventure of Jamela and her chicken Christmas, we run through the township, meet wonderful characters, hear African dialects and words in context, and worry for the chicken.

The Jamela series by Niki Daly, published by Frances Lincoln are enduring stories that show us the life of people we are less familiar with – but not with a moral or a lesson about life in South Africa or showcasing the poverty like charity ads do – these celebrate life. These show characters in-situ and show us how these characters are just like us, even though they are far away, they speak a different language and wear colourful clothes (which I absolutely love).

 

These stories also remind me of the young graphic novel that Flying Eye Books translated from French – Akissi – of the little girl in an African township, running on barefeet, bringing trouble and solving problems.

Did or did they not eat chicken for Christmas? Did they eat Christmas the chicken? Maybe you will read and find out and also find other Jamela books out there.

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Star Girl by Karin Littlewood reviewed by Lynda Waterhouse

Gracie has a special star. It shines and sparkles in the night-sky just for her. Each morning she says, “I wish you were here with me all the time.” So one evening she takes the star and brings it home.

Out of context the star is grey and dull and lifeless and no amount of effort on Gracie’s part can renew its sparkle. She tries dressing up in her starry dress and dancing. She thinks the star needs some friends so she places it in a rock pool amongst the starfish. No matter how hard she tries to please the star she cannot make it shine. Gracie comes to realise that it would never shine for her again…until she learns to let the star go.

Karin’s beautiful illustrations, rich poetic text and affecting theme make this picture book sparkle.  I can’t wait to read this story aloud to a group of children.

Star Girls is published by Frances Lincoln Picture books ISBN 978-1-84780-146-3

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PUSS JEKYLL, CAT HYDE by Joyce Dunbar and Jill Barton. Reviewed by Saviour Pirotta

Title:  Puss Jekyll, Cat Hyde
Written by Joyce Dunbar
Illustrated by Jill Barton
Published by Frances Lincoln
Publication date: 3rd October 2013
ISBN-10: 1847804926
ISBN-13: 978-1847804921

When asked why he'd settled on T.S. Elliot's 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats' as the source material for his new musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber famously answered something akin to, 'I read somewhere that 90% of people love cats, which gives the musical a big chance of becoming a hit.'

He was right, of course.  Cats have always figured prominently in art, from the funerary moggies carved by the Ancient Egyptians to the arrogant, wise-cracking Siamese twins in Disney's The Lady and the Tramp, Dr Seuss's Cat in the Hat and Lewis Carroll's grinning Cheshire feline.

No wonder, then, that cats feature largely in picture books too.   They are instantly recognisable, even to very young children.  We are all familiar with the cat's character, mores and foibles, which makes it the perfect protagonist for stories that can be understood and appreciated by readers all over the world.

Joyce Dunbar's Puss Jeykll and Cat Hyde is an exciting addition to the feline canon. Here is a book that explores the dual nature of the cat - the playful ball of fur we love to cuddle up to on the sofa and the amoral hunter that stalks vulnerable creatures by the light of the moon.

The rhythmic text, a beautifully written free-flow poem, takes us through a day and night in a cat's life.  We see the cat enjoying the housebound pursuits of a loving pet, interspersed with the exploits of a jungle wild-beast.   Dunbar uses quite challenging language, always a plus-point in my opinion.

Jill Barton's luminous coloured pencil and water colour drawings stick to a restricted palette, of mostly blues, beiges and blacks.  They compliment the text perfectly, making this a must-have book that will be enjoyed time and time again.

Reviewed by Saviour Pirotta

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ENORMOUSE, by Angie Morgan. Reviewed by Saviour Pirotta

Hardback: 32 pages

Written and Illustrated by Angie Morgan

Publisher: Frances Lincoln

ISBN: 9781847804488

Pub. Date: 3rd October 2013

Enormouse lives with the other mice in the cosy mouse house.  He's the odd one out because, as his name suggests, he is enormous.  Still, his size comes in handy when hauling giant lumps of cheese or reaching for food in hanging cupboards.

Then one day disaster strikes!  Enormouse finds out he is really a rat. An identity crisis ensues and Enormouse sets off into the big wide world to find himself and his fellow rats.

Angie Morgan's delightful follow up to Daisy's Big Dig not only dishes up an entertaining story but deals with the issue of identity in a subtle and humorous way.  The simple text flows easily from spread to spread and  the illustartions, often laid out in comic book style, hum with bright colours.  The mice, who are all given names in a spread at the end of the book, all look terribly cute.  The rats too come across as loveable creatures, making this book the perfect springboard for classroom discussions about belonging and acceptance.   Not that Enormouse should be confined to schools and libraries.  Above all this is an entertaining story that wears its big rodent heart on its sleeve!

Saviour Pirotta

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TWO NESTS, by Laurence Anholt and Jim Coplestone - reviewed by Saviour Pirotta

Title: TWO NESTS
Author: Laurence Anholt
Illustrator Jim Coplestone
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Pub date: 7 March 2013
ISBN:

Family separation is always a traumatic issue for kids and we can never have enough books that deal with the subject in a sensitive and positive way.

Laurence Arnholt's latest collaboration with illustrator Jim Coplestone is one of the best, and funniest, I have seen dealing with this subject. Told in bouncy, fast-flowing rhyme, it's the story of Betty and Paul, two birds who fall in love and build a nest together in a cherry tree.   Betty lays an egg and they have a baby. The happy occasion leads to a respectful status in the local animal community as well as a delightful social life with lots of creatures from the surrounding countryside coming to visit.  But the nest proves too small for all three birds and before long they start squabbling.  Paul decides to move out and set up home on another branch of the cherry tree.

This turn of events leaves all three members of the family sad, especially Baby Bird who misses his/her dad [the baby's gender is never revealed]. Betty assures him/her that both parents still love their little baby very much and - before long - Baby Bird has sprouted wings and discovered the advantages of having two homes to share.

This book not only deals with an important issue in an understanding and perceptive way, it's also a jolly good read. The gentle illustrations, suffused with light blues and pinks, give it a cosy, whimsical look.  The toddler I tired it out on was shouting 'again' before we'd come to the last spread and I'm sure lots of other kids will be doing the same everywhere this book is read.

Saviour Pirotta
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