Remember we started something new just to change it up a bit here on my blog. I am going to give the opening line of a famous children's book and hopefully you can guess what book I took it from. You can leave answers here or just have fun with it on your own. The next day I will give you the answer. Here's today's book..
"The first place that I can remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it."
Today's featured book:
Title: The Birthday Presents
Author: Paul Stewart
Illustrator: Chris Riddell
So what's it all about?
Rabbit and Hedgehog are two unlikely friends, but good friends they are. One day they are chatting away and realize that they have never had a birthday or even a birthday present - why in fact they didn't even know when their birthdays were. Now that is sad isn't it? Together they decide that they would officially declare tomorrow a grand day to celebrate and then they realize that gifts are required for each other for the happy occasion. Both wonder what they could possibility give to make each other happy? Hedgehog thinks and thinks and then discovers a glass bottle glimmering in the moonlight when he is down by the water's edge. He has an epiphany....the perfect gift for his friend he is sure. Rabbit curls up asleep in his cozy, safe, dark rabbit hole and, thinks of his friend sound asleep out in the open in the wild. He too has a revelation and voila he now knows exactly what to give to Hedgehog tomorrow. The friends accept the original gifts half-heartedly but find when they put their own personal thumbprints on them everything works out perfectly and meets their needs to a "t". Best of all the two friends find the best gift of all... their ongoing friendship, and they immediately begin to plan another birthday party very soon.
The illustrations are soft and full of expression and emotion. The characters are adorable and you just want to hug them. They add so much to the narrative and together : text + illustrations= perfection. Highly recommended.
About the author:
Paul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers - everything from picture books to football stories, fantasy and horror. Together with Chris Riddell, he is co-creator of the bestselling Edge Chronicles series, which has sold over three million books and is now available in over thirty languages. They are also co-creators of the Far-Flung Adventure series, which includes Fergus Crane, Gold Smarties Prize Winner, Corby Flood and Hugo Pepper, Silver Nestle Prize Winners, and the Barnaby Grimes Series.
About the illustrator:
Chris Riddell is an accomplished graphic artist who has illustrated many acclaimed books for children. He has won the UNESCO Award for Something Else, has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, and was shortlisted for the Kurt Maschler Award. He is also the acclaimed political cartoonist for the Observer.
Book Review Rating: 8 (Fantastic!)
Read on and read always! Have a great day everyone.
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