PBS #6 FArTHER by Grahame Baker-Smith

When a father who dreams of flying goes off to war and does not return, his son decides to make the dream come true. Grahame Baker-Smith’s moving story, with stunning illustrations, shows how, with love and a bit of ambition, you can reach seemingly impossible goals.

For our sixth Picture Book Saturday we received FArTHER and I am very grateful to Templar for sending me a copy to review and to hold and love.

Only a few days ago this gorgeous book won the Kate Greenaway Award 2011 and a more worthy winner would be hard to find.

Not only are the illustrations whimsical and creative and beautiful, the story is wonderfully touching.

It is completely from our main character's point of view.  In a few words he explains his father's obsession with flying.  He is always thinking about it, puttering around in his workroom making fantastical flying contraptions that somehow just just lack the ability to fly.  The boy says how he then crawls into his father's lap until his father remembers that he's there.  Then his father would grab him, and run with him and they would spend time on the beach, laughing and playing and flying kites.  But that is until his father gets that look in his eye.  And once again the boy is left to his own devices as his father starts tinkering with his creations yet again.

The story moves on from there, but to tell it here would be unfair.  FArTher is meant to be read by parents to their children.  It is meant to be read by adults so that they can remember where they come from.  It is meant to be read by teens to remember that once upon a time, not so long ago, they were that small and that  confused by their parents lives and that following your dreams may not be a bad thing.

I adored FArTher (a lovely play on the words further and father that you will understand once you've read the book) and it made me really miss my own dad with his own crazy ideas and whimsical dreams.  But even more important is the core central message of "never stop dreaming" and I heartily approve.

I think that FArTHER has become my picture book of the year thus far and I will definitely want some of the whimsical pieces of art by Mr. Baker-Smith for my walls here at home.  Do visit here, for a look at some of his illustrations.

PBS #4 Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie On The Road

Welcome to MFB's fourth Picture Book Saturday.

I must apologise for the behind-ness of this feature.  I have no other excuse other than: a crazy life in which Saturdays aren't really my own.

However, I have now got my act in order and so pleased to offer regular reviews on some excellent picture books sent to us by various publishers.

Today's Picture Book Saturday features Joel Stewart's fabulous Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie on the Road.

The book opens with this great image of Dexter and the Beastie standing on the roofs of a town, hooting and tooting on their horns.  It is night time and the stars and half moon is out.  They are kicking up a racket and an angry speech bubble from a garret tells them to Be Quiet!

By refusing to Be Quiet and To Behave, Dexter and the Beastie get thrown out of town.  Straight out, into the deep dark scary forest.  They don't stay frightened for very long.  They walk along, tooting and hooting on their horns and trumpets when they unexpectedly come across the tremendously charing Sir Percy Pecket who loves their hooting and asks them to assist in waking up his Beloved, the Princess Philippina.  The Princess awakes and like Sir Percy she adores the hooting and joins in with her flute.  But then the Princess asks Sir Percy if he's taken care of that pesky dragon problem.  Sadly, he did not and so Dexter, the Princess and Beastie all set off to give the Frightful Dragon what for.  Only, it turns out the Dragon is actually quite cool and he learns to tapdance to their tunes.

Well, the story continues apace, with the Princess, Dexter and Beastie and the Dragon giving performance here there and everywhere.  Until they realise they just cannot stop!

Needless to say, this is a great picture book.  The language is wonderful and the illustrations are quirky and fun and I quite would love a Big Blue Beastie of my own.  Now, please?  Their adventures are over the top, loud and funny and they meet unexpected characters who act in charming and eccentric ways.  It's a book about friendship and music, packed with comedy and giggles.  I loved it and can highly recommend it to readers both very small and very old.

PBS #3 - Bridget Fidget Hold on Tight! by Joe Berger

Bridget Fidget is in a FIX. She forgot to hold on tight to her beloved toy, Captain Cat, and lost him in a shop - disaster! Luckily, her friend Billy is there to save the day AND Captain Cat with his brand-new Superzoom 500 car. Quick, everyone, hold on tight!

With overtones of Shirley Hughes's classic Dogger, this is a hilarious comic caper from Joe Berger, World Book Day Illustrator 2010.

With lovely bright artwork and larger than life drawings, Joe Berger's Bridget Fidget is a great little picture book full of humour and a quest. Quests are 100% my favourite things.

When Bridget Fidget dashes through the Absolutely Best Shop in the World for Spending Shiny Coins (can someone please make a shop called this for real!?) clutching her backpack and shiny coin from the tooth fairy, she pays far less attention to Captain Cat and he bounces straight out of her backpack into the basket of another little girl strolling past.

When her friend Billy points out that Captain Cat is gone, poor Bridget Fidget goes into serious panic mode. She starts hunting for him everywhere but there is no sign of her special one and only. Fortunately Billy comes to the rescue but in the end it is Bridget Fidget who ends up saving the day overall in a great turn of generosity and kindness.

I enjoyed this - it's a very subtle way to teach younger folk (3 - 5 y/o) the value of sharing with those who may not have as much. Also, the language use was a bit reminiscent of Charlie and Lola, so for readers who are starting out, this is a great primer. And, as I said, wonderfully illustrated with Bridget Fidget being a very cute character whom I really liked. I too want to have a Captain Cat and fully expect that mine would be arriving from Dingle Bang's Universe of Toys at any moment.

Bridget Fidget Hold on Tight is has been since 2010 from Puffin.  Find Joe Berger's website here. 

(Picture Book Saturday) The Beasties by Jenny Nimmo and Gwen Millward

On a starry, starry night, as she lies awake in her big new bed, in her big new room, Daisy hears a mysterious sound.

Her heart goes pit-a-pat.  What could it be?

I've been meaning to start doing Picture Book Saturday, a new feature on MFB for some time now, and whilst tidying my shelves, I stumbled across a raft of picture books I've not read or reviewed.  So I took that as a sign to start.

My first picture book I'm reviewing is one by one of my favourite authors for younger folk - Jenny Nimmo.  I can say, with my hand on my heart, her Charlie Bone books made me want to get published.  Her ease of storytelling blew me away and although I have not read her for the longest time, I'm so glad I've found her in this story of The Beasties.

Daisy is a little girl who is struggling to fall asleep.  She's hearing all these strange noises and she keeps wondering what they are.  Enter The Beasties, Weevil, Floot and Ferdinand.  They creep softly softly into her room and hide under her bed, where they spread their treasures wide.  Then she heard a growly voice and it was the fiersome Ferdinand who spoke, telling a story of a king and treasures and robbers and how Ferdinand save the faraway king's treasure.

Daisy is lulled to sleep by the tale but the next night she once again settled in bed, too awake and too aware of the groans and noises around her.   This time it's Weevil's turn to tell his story about a magical bird, shipwrecks and unexpected kindnesses.

On the third night, Daisy hears a peculiar little whistling noise and it's Floot's turn to tell his story of hide and seek, princesses, wolves and unexpected friendship.

The fourth night, Daisy lies back in bed, wondering, wondering.  Then she hears a gravelly voice and bravely she looks beneath her bed, only to discover The Beasties themselves!

Obviously I won't tell you how this beautiful whimsical story ends, but let's just say that Daisy becomes a brave new storyteller in her own right.

Gwen Millward's artwork is wonderfully evocative and endearing in this gorgeous picture book.  Her illustrations of The Beasties made me want them to come and visit me and tell me stories.  They are endearing and not what we expect at all. And I loved how our preconceived ideas of size and importance are tilted on the side.

It's a great book encouraging creativity and imagination and above all, storytelling.  Just looking through it has made me feel all billowy and warm inside.  And that's what good books do.

The Beasties by Jenny and Gwen is out now from Egmont.