Reviewed by
Dianne Bates
It’s always
good to see a new Mem Fox book for young readers as this Australian author has
constantly produced picture books which become classics. This latest picture
book is simple and uses few words with lots of repetitious phrases. There’s a
small boy in blue overalls who’s ‘in search of a couple of things’, passing
through a gate on a farm ‘but gates don’t lay them!’ It is instantly clear that
he’s in search of some eggs for breakfast. Not spoken, but shown in every
illustration, is a hen which is following the searching boy.
One can
imagine as the boy comes to each thing on the farm and the text reads ‘but… (trucks,
tractors, haystacks, cows, sheep, ponies) don’t lay them’, the child being read
to will surely be screaming, ‘look behind you!’ Of course, the child’s
engagement in the story will become louder and louder, more and more frantic as
the walk continues. Finding how to engage her child reader is one of Fox’s strengths.
And she does it to great effect in this story which is ideal for reading aloud.
The book’s words are rhythmic and well-paced until the story reaches the final
line (just for the child reader): ‘Well, YOU knew all along… of course!’
The final
illustration in the book shows the little boy seated with his mum enjoying a
boiled egg for his breakfast (and the hen on the windowsill outside, peering in
at the domestic scene). The illustrations, using charcoal and muted colours,
are free flowing and engaging, with vignettes which make the hen full of
expressions (for example, amazed when she encounters the cow).
This is sure
to be another winner for Fox. Ideal for children aged 3+ years.
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