The Whole Caboodle

The Whole Caboodle by Lisa Shanahan, illustrated by Leila Rudge (Scholastic Press)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-932-1

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

The Whole Caboodle is a delightfully refreshing and surprising counting book. Using lyrical language with a rhythm which rolls exquisitely off the tongue this is a book begging to be read aloud over and over again.

 ‘Seven racey-chasey Giant Schnoodles?

 Eight snuggly-juggly Bassetoodles?’

There are dogs to be found on every page. Children will love listening to the silly words which fit these dogs beautifully and have fun spotting dogs in unlikely places. The simple concept of a dog walk has been transformed into so much more in such a wonderfully clever way, through both text and illustrations.

Each colourful page hides the dogs described. But not in a busy bustling way, or in a ‘search the page carefully’ way. Rather in obvious and fitting way – dog shaped clouds, or dogs instead of horses on a merry-go-round (the racey-chasey ones).

These illustrations are soft and playful with the happiness and love of dogs shining through, right to the very last (wordless) page. A stumbly-jumbly one.

This picture book is fabulous for pre-school readers, especially lovers of dogs and bubbly language.