The best children’s picture books don’t just entertain and educate, they also have an element of fun – that indefinable something that leads to the all-too-familiar cry “Read it again!”
Who knew lying could be fun? Arthur certainly does in Truth According to Arthur (Bloomsbury. 32 pages. $14.99) by Tim Hopgood. When Arthur crashes on his big brother’s bike and damages both his bike and his mother’s car, he and the truth part ways as he tries to explain what happened. He bends, stretches, covers and ignores the truth in the most imaginative ways, including blaming a super cool princess, an alien and a giant robot. However, when it comes to telling his mother what really happened, Arthur decides to admit his guilt and apologize.
The Truth According to Arthur (Bloomsbury. 32 pp. $14.99) by Tim Hopgood.Credit:
In David Tazzyman’s loose-lined cartoon-style illustrations, the much-abused truth is depicted as a long, expressive, malleable gray blob with stick legs. The illustrations feature bright colors, visual humor, and endearing characters. It’s a very entertaining book with a strong message about the importance of befriending the truth.
The truth also gets a good stretch in Grandfather’s Great Adventure (Penguin. 32 pp. $19.99) by Paul Newman. The narrator, a small boy, is afraid of water, and to allay his fears his grandfather, who takes him to swimming lessons, tells him a gloriously grand story about what happened when he swam all around the world. According to Grandpa, he’s had many interesting interactions with sea creatures of all kinds, including sharks and whales, while still managing to watch his favorite quiz shows on TV.
Grandfather’s Great Adventure (Penguin. 32 pp. $19.99) by Paul Newman.Credit:
The humorous counterplay between Newman’s text and Tom Jellett’s illustrations explores every nuance of pun, exaggeration, whimsy and just plain hype in Grandpa’s story. This long grandpa joke is sure to entertain, but at its heart is a caring grandpa who does everything he can to reassure his grandson.
There are also elements of overcoming the fear of the unknown in Leila Rudge’s celebration of difference, Gary (Walker Books. 32 pages. $24.99). Gary is a carrier pigeon who looks like all his friends, except he can’t fly. When they go on adventures, Gary stays home on his perch, recording their travels in his scrapbook. Then one day, Gary and his book fall into the travel basket and he finds himself far from home.
Luckily, his scrapbook is full of useful information, and Gary is able to plot his way home using public transport. Confronted with the enormity of the city, Gary uses his brain rather than his wings to fly. Rudge’s detailed and beautifully crafted illustrations feature the pinks, grays and greens of pigeon feathers. Gently instructive, Gary is an example of a creative picture book with the perfect balance of imagination, inspiration and humor.
There is also a lot of humor and imagination in Leigh Hodgkinson Are you comfortably seated? (Bloomsbury. 32 pages. $25.99). A little boy tries to find the perfect place to read his book. He wants a place that’s not too noisy or too smelly, not too hot or too cold, and certainly not too crowded. He finds all kinds of places, in all kinds of chairs, with all kinds of creatures. Finally, he realizes that you can read a good book anywhere, and that it is even more special when it is shared.