{"id":7709,"date":"2014-05-31T18:24:11","date_gmt":"2014-05-31T16:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/responsive.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents\/?p=7709"},"modified":"2022-06-22T10:24:02","modified_gmt":"2022-06-22T08:24:02","slug":"book-reviews-two-lovely-new-kiddies-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/lifestyle\/book-reviews\/book-reviews-two-lovely-new-kiddies-books\/","title":{"rendered":"Book reviews: Two lovely new kiddies books"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/span>A quick overview<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve been thinking a lot about children\u2019s literature lately: what\u2019s good, what\u2019s interesting but bad for sensitive kids, what\u2019s local and how it compares with the international stuff\u2026 And just in time I received two lovely new books:<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A Scarlet Tail (An Original African Tale)<\/i> \u2013 Susan Long & Claire Norden<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pig and Small<\/i> – Alex Latimer<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve read both at bedtime and had requests for repeats, so that\u2019s a good sign.<\/p>\n

Want to know more?<\/h2>\n

\"kids<\/p>\n

A Scarlet Tail<\/i> <\/strong>is about a handsome and athletic African Grey parrot named, of allstrange things, Nebuchadnezzar the Third. He and his fellow birds are practising their aerial acrobatics for the annual aero-display and later, he is joined by his best mate, Belinda the Bee, to play some hide and seek in the jungle. It\u2019s a simple and unremarkable plot but, my goodness, what absolutely spectacular writing!<\/p>\n

Kiddie book rhymes are usually a bit forced. Not these. The verse is inspired. Clever, ironic, fun for parents to read, and full of delicious words. It\u2019s rare that I enjoy reading a book more<\/i> than my little one enjoys hearing it (and that I marvel at every phrase and word choice). And the illustrations are glorious: bright, compelling, detailed.<\/p>\n

Suggested age<\/span>: Start reading this one to your littlies at 3 or 4, then leave for a while, and come back to it in Grades R, 1 and 2. You should then hang onto it for the later primary school years, because the vocabulary is totally amazing!<\/p>\n

Pig and Small<\/i><\/strong> reminds me a lot of the writing of \"book<\/a>Mo Willems (creator of the Gerald and Piggie<\/i> books), because it\u2019s irreverent, full of funny details that only parents will spot and light on text (making it easy to read to a toddler at bed-time). It\u2019s also heavy on magnificent illustrations and very strong on the final moral: namely, that two friends can be very, very different but still find things to enjoy together.<\/p>\n

This one doesn\u2019t rhyme, but it\u2019s still fun to read and lovely to discuss afterwards.<\/p>\n

Suggested age<\/span>: You could start reading this one to kiddies aged 2.5 onwards.<\/p>\n

Both books are published by Random House & available at book stores\/online.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

This article was originally written for Jozikids by Tiffany Markman in 2014.<\/em><\/p>\n

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If you enjoyed this article, read Good books are out here, and other stories <\/a>by Tiffany Markman.
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