Two new picture books from Scholastic aimed at younger readers. One young girl deals with fear of the unknown, and a young boy deals with an unwanted distraction but both have elements of humour which is always good. Both have lovely endings.
There’s a hedgehog in my pants
By Amy Harrop
Illustrated by Ross Kinnaird
ISBN 9781775435655
A little bit of lighthearted fun about an unwelcome hedgehog who takes up residence inside a young boy’s pants. The trouble is the boy is wearing his pants. The prickly creature will just not leave. No matter what the boy does, the hedgehog is firmly tucked up inside his pants. He tries dancing and shaking his bottom, even tries yelling at the hedgehog hoping to scare it away but no luck. He is running out of options.
A funny, rhyming picture book with brightly coloured and comical illustrations which will delight those readers with a more wicked sense of humour.
Things in the sea are touching me!
By Linda Jane Keegan
Illustrated by Minky Stapleton
ISBN 9781775435709
“Look in the water, Ma!
Golly, oh, gee!
Some thing in the sea
is touching me!”
A young girl goes to the beach with her two mothers hoping to have a wonderful day playing in the sand, swimming in the sea and just spending time together. However, it turns out that every time the young girl steps in the water, she feels things touching her. It’s great to see how once she discovers whatever is touching her is safe, her fears slip away. A good book to read to young children who might be afraid of the sea, or perhaps might just be a bit more anxious than other children. It’s good to see diversity in picture books too. There will surely be children who recognise themselves in this picture book. Her fears show up in the darker illustrations while the safety, joy and love of family show up in illustrations with more bold and bright colours.
