Grandma, the Baby and Me

Grandma, the Baby and Me by Emma Allen, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville (Omnibus Books)

HB RRP $24.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-873-3
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

The day the baby came home Grandma winked and said, ‘Here’s trouble.’

Henry is having trouble adjusting to having a new baby in the house. Things are not quite the same. Routines are altered, mum’s attention is divided and even his big sister is giving the baby all her focus and kisses. If only Grandma would come back and make things better.

This is a gentle story about the change in family dynamics when a new baby arrives and it is told with such skill and simplicity. ‘...and the baby yelled until bathtime. In the bath, I yelled too.’ And although Henry’s yell is a happy one, Mum tells Henry to stop splashing and cradles the baby.

The lovely and realistic relationships are portrayed well through the text and also beautifully through the expressive illustrations. There is so much in every picture. There is the family dog, appearing on most pages with his ball, just hoping someone will throw it for him, especially Henry who completely ignores him.

There is a dinosaur theme which runs strongly throughout the story, and my favourite page is one which I think every mother could relate to: At bedtime it rained, the baby screamed, and Mum cried, ‘Oh! The washing!’ The family are standing in the kitchen. Mum is holding the baby with the phone wedged between her shoulder and ear while clearing the dinner dishes. Henry is in his bath towel tugging on her shirt and Josie is trying to give her a cupcake. Dad is washing dishes looking forlornly at the rain and the dog is licking up spilt milk under the table.

This is a lovely story about love, family and adjustment and how much a simple squeeze of Grandma’s hand can help a situation. It would be a great book for any young child, particularly those who are expecting, or experiencing a new sibling themselves.

The Terrible Suitcase

The Terrible Suitcase by Emma Allen, illustrated by Freya Blackwood (Omnibus Books)
HB RRP $24.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-940-2
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

The first day of school is a big experience. It is long awaited and anticipated with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. So imagine how you’d feel it you were given a terrible suitcase instead of the red backpack with rockets which you desperately wanted as a going-to-school present. Would it make you mad, mad, MAD?

It certainly makes the main character in The Terrible Suitcase mad, especially when her friend Howard is given the backpack with rockets and all the other children starting school have incredible new backpacks.

This charming story about starting school, fitting in and outer space is told through the eyes of a girl with strength, passion and a glorious imagination. The story follows her predicament as she moves through mad, grumpy, and sulky until she slowly eases herself out of her moods.

I haven’t read many picture books which are written in the first person and it makes this story refreshingly intimate. Children will be able to get inside the head of the character and relate to her. It reminds me a little of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, (a great favourite in our house when my children were young) in the way that it explores how moods and actions can build up and affect the day.

Although there is far more text than is usual in a picture book for preschoolers, the words flow beautifully and fit the character and voice, making it a pleasure to read aloud.

There is much to explore in the beautifully soft but busy illustrations. There are many children doing different things, with different backpacks and different personalities.

The appeal of rockets and space travel is wide and young children will respond to the imagination of both the text and the pictures. This is a picture book well worth including in any young person’s book collection.