Alpha – Bessora and Barroux

Alpha - Bessora & Barroux (translated: Sarah Ardizzone)

Alpha is a book I would have on my coffee table, my reception area table, the boardroom table, the canteen, and definitely in every classroom or library: big, bold, great to look at, immediately immersive, whichever pages you are flicking through and something that I want everyone to see.

This is the story of Alpha, a cabinet maker who journeys from Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire, Africa) to meet his family at the Gare Du Nord (Paris, France, Europe).  Along the way, he compares himself to a backpacking adventurer, although without a visa and dwindling cash, he finds that most other people regard him as an illegal immigrant.

The Wolves of Currumpaw – William Grill

The Wolves of Currumpaw – William Grill

The Wolves of Currumpaw - William Grill

 This book surprised me.

For sure, it is gorgeous. It is a big, oversized hardback with a lovely tactile cover. The illustrations, throughout, are fabulous, full of earthy colours and linestrokes and raw heart. There are plenty of full page pictures that just hold you in their space. It is definitely the illustrations that give this book its music.

The text, for me, was less immersive. It is non-fiction and its tone is matter of fact but I was a little dismissive of it. And then, something happens in the story, and I got annoyed with the text. And then, there’s a picture and then some text and then I cried, and suddenly I was all ears. Clever.

The Wolves of Currumpaw is set in nineteenth century, New Mexico. It lovingly tells the story of Lobo, a notorious grey wolf, and of Ernest Thompson Seton. It’s a story about change and how America’s wildlife conservation was started. Plus, it has a wonderful glossary giving both the word and its meaning for the images that repeatedly appear through the book. One of the most interesting glossaries I’ve seen in a long time (although, picture books aren’t something I’ve looked at for a while).

The book completely won me over. The Wolves of Currumpaw is a great big non-fiction triumph.

The Wolves of Currumpaw is nominated for both the 2017 Carnegie Medal and its sister award for illustrated books, the Kate Greenaway Medal. 

Publication details: Flying Eye Books, 2016, London, hardback

This copy: for review from the publisher

Fortunately, the Milk - Neil Gaiman

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

 

Review by M

Little M’s read Coraline and still remembers it being scary. We have The Graveyard Book and Chris Riddell’s illustrations mesmerisingly frighten us away. We read Neil Gaiman’s poem in the A Little Aloud, For Children anthology – it was marvellous. Fortunately, the Milk came along and now I’ve read my first Neil Gaiman novel. Fortunately, the Milk is also fully illustrated by Chris Riddell. Fortunately, for me, these illustrations are dazzlingly fun. Fortunately, the Milk is too.

It is funny in a laugh out loud way (yes, I was on a train, which probably made me laugh for even longer!). It is preposterous in either a ‘eyes wide open’ or ‘I don’t believe you’ way depending on your gullibility, disposition to enjoy or propensity to question. It introduces all sorts of concepts like quantum thought and superpositions, international invasions and colonisations, and the history of language. Do not read this book if you want the bedtime light turned off soon after reading because there will be questions. Lots of them. Expect to be challenged throughout the story and possible footstamping in response the ending.



An inside page illustration by Chris Riddell

The scenario is this: mum’s gone away and dad’s in charge and of course they’ve run out of milk for breakfast (and tea!). So off he goes to the shop. When he returns, ages later, what a yarn he spins about what took so long. A time-travelling, galactic and maybe even extra-galactic adventure story. Fortunately, there is milk, a dinosaur, a grundledorfer, ponies, gloop, a sandwich box and much more.

A book that would suit almost or newly independent and curious readers, and it is a must for reading out loud.

Unfortunately, the only downside is that the dedications page is too full of clues so make sure to skip that until after reading....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviewed by M

Publication details: Bloomsbury, 17 September 2013, London

This copy: uncorrected digital proof received for review from the publisher.

 

Neil Gaiman: photo credit: Kimberly Butler