As Christmas approaches, we present a series of short reviews by Grace O’Reilly of books for children.
Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort
This funny little story will have little readers laughing their heads off. Dinosaurs Love Underpants is the follow-on book of the title Aliens Love Underpants, which was a Richard and Judy’s Children’s Books Winner in 2007. Published by Simon and Schuster in 2008 where the text is copyright of Claire Freedman and the illustrations are copyright of Ben Cort, this edition was published in 2014.
The blurb at the back reads,
“Dinosaurs were all wiped out
A long way back in history.
No one knows quite how or why
Now this book solves the mystery…”
In this laugh out loud book, make sure not to pee your underpants, as the dinosaurs and the cavemen fight it out in an underpants tug of war and more.
“It all began when cavemen,
Felt embarrassed in the nude,
So someone dreamt up underpants,
To stop them looking rude”
Perhaps if the cavemen didn’t invent underpants, maybe the dinosaurs may still be around, and mankind and the dinosaurs could have been friends, until they wanted to either eat you are take your underpants.
Order your copy online here.
(c) Grace O’Reilly
Lettice – A Christmas Wish by Mandy Stanley
First published in Great Britain in 2003, by Collins Picture Books, and this edition I have before me is a 2004 copy, published by Harper Collins Children’s Books, and printed in Hong Kong, by Printing Express Ltd. Both the story and the illustration were created and copyright of Mandy Stanley, 2003.
This is a sweet little picture book, with a Christmas tale for little readers, babies to six-year olds. Lettuce is a little rabbit who after falling out of her burrow, has a Christmas wish come true. Some of the illustrations have glittery and shiny bits for little ones to touch and feel. You can’t have Christmas without a little bit of sparkle. Children will love this extra special, touch!
The blurb at the back reads,
“The little rabbit with big dreams!
Lettuce
One morning, Lettice Rabbit finds her world covered in sparkling snow. Could this magical scene have something to do with Christmas? Lettice just has to find out…”
Order your copy online here.
(c) Grace O’Reilly
The Naughty List by Michael Fry and Bradley Jackson
Printed in the United States of America, and first published in 2015 by HARPER, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, this funny, action packed book about saving Christmas is am ideal read for eight to twelve-year olds, although some adults may get a few laughs reading this fast past and humorous tale.
The Naughty List is written by both Michael Fry and Bradley Jackson, and all of the illustrations were created by Michael Fry also. The illustrations are black and white and done in a comic strip like format, with text added to most of them.
The blurb at the back of the book reads,
“Are You on the List?
When Bobbie’s bumbling efforts to save her brother’s Christmas actually land him on Santa’s Naughty List, she must travel to the North Pole to make things right again and save Christmas. Bobbie suddenly finds herself on an epic holiday adventure complete with rogue elves, dysfunctional reindeer, a lazy Santa, and more. But in the end she learns what it really means to have Christmas spirit. And that magic has its limitations.”
In this book we meet Bobbi, her Mum and Da, her Uncle Dale and her little brother, who is obsessed with Christmas. We also meet her dog Maggie. Missing her Dad, and wanting Tad to have a great Christmas. We read of robots and aliens, and zombie Santa, we read about a crazy snowman, snow angels, and much, more on this weirdly awesome Christmas tale. Look out for Larry the reindeer! Most importantly we learn what the real meaning of Christmas is.
Bradley Jackson is a writer and a film maker whose debut film Intramural was released by MGM/Orion Pictures. He is on Twitter @bradleyjackson.
Michael Fry is a writer and a cartoonist. He has created and co-created international syndicate comic strips, including Over the Hedge, illustrated by T. Lewis. Follow him on Twitter @MFryActual.
Order your copy online here.
(c) Grace O’Reilly