Children's Book Reviews
So Much
Written by Trish Cooke
Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Candlewick Press, 1994
Who can resist a baby? Certainly not anyone in the exuberant and loving family depicted in Trish Cooke and Helen Oxenbury's cumulative picture book, So Much. As the story progresses, one by one, each family member arrives -- Auntie Bibba, Uncle Didi, Nannie, Gran- Gran, Cousin Kay-Kay and Big Cousin Ross. Each, in turn, indulges his/her need to hug, squeeze, kiss or eat baby right up. Finally, the doorbell rings, the last to arrive is Daddy, and the family get- together becomes a surprise party to celebrate his birthday. After much eating, dancing and fun, the baby is reluctantly put to bed. Before falling asleep, he happily reminisces about all the ways his family showed that they loved him "so much"!
Cooke's language is delicious -- you can just taste the family's love for this baby. The repetitive and cumulative text paralleling each person's arrival builds the joy to the delightful climax of Daddy's arrival. The feeling is heightened by the quiet lulls between visitors, created both by the text and the almost colourless pictures that are interspersed between the colourful and lively gouache illustrations. Oxenbury, a master of picture book illustration, has outdone herself here. The pictures convey such a sense of movement that this family jumps off the pages. Readers will understand -- no, feel -- the overwhelming urge to cuddle this wonderful baby. A lovely, positive book about extended families and love -- there is so much to enjoy in So Much.
Quickly, Quigley
Written by Jeanne M. Gravois
Illustrated by Alison Hill
Tambourine Books, 1993
"Quigley was small. And Quigley was slow," is the refrain in this picture book about a little penguin who is always late, always last and always losing things. Parents, teachers and friends constantly reproach him with, "Quickly, Quigley," to get him to move a little faster. When his little brother is born, things seem worse than ever as he is told to be quicker about doing things for the baby. The climax comes when Quigley, running to keep up with his friends, hears his little brother crying, "Quigley...slow down"!
Slow pokes and dawdlers will get a kick out of Quigley and will enjoy seeing their slowness put in perspective. Gravois' simple and repetitive text may also provide parents and younger children with an opportunity to talk about the slowness in a non-threatening context. Illustrator Alison Hill contributes to the mood with her likeable penguin family, and especially with Quigley, dressed in his orange scarf and cap. Quickly, Quigley is a fun and reassuring read for pre-schoolers and their parents.
Elizabeth Thornley is a librarian in the Children's Department of the Ottawa Public
Library.
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This article first appeared in Interaction published by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Winter, 1996. |
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