I recently read a great article by Julia Donaldson about the magic of picture books, which I wrote about here. And she’s right, that they are wonderful worlds for sharing with our wee ones. She has written some great ones, some perennial favourites, herself, of course. Who doesn’t love The Gruffalo? So yes, with all that behind her, you can imagine that I was pretty pleased to see a new picture book by her arrive in my mailbox this fall…
Jack and the Flumflum Tree
by Julia Donaldson
HarperCollins
ISBN: 978 0 230 71023 8
When Jack’s granny comes of with a case of the moozles, it seems it is up to him to sail to the Isle of Blowyernose and bring back the fruit of the flumflum tree – and so he does. Granny sends him off with a sack full of seemingly random objects, all of which turn out to be lifesavers along the way, because this is not a journey that goes smoothly.
This would be a fun pattern story in any hands, but of course, Donaldson has a deft touch with rhyme, and it takes on a bit of a fun chanting rhythm to it that makes for wonderful sharing aloud. Add it bright illustrations with their own flashes of humour, and the whole package is a terrifically entertaining book for kids from kindergarten to about grade 2 or 3.
I loved The Gruffalo… this sounds like another winner – thanks, Alice!!