RATTLETRAP CAR. Written by Phyllis Root and illustrated by Jill Barton. (Walker Books, 9.99).
Hopefully you'll be able to ignore the high pollution toll this rundown car exacts on the environment as it tries to make its way to the beach. The sea seems like the perfect place to be on a dry and dusty summer day. The only problem is, the rattletrap car doesn't look like it will be able to get there. But the baby cries 'Go!' at pivotal points in the story, offering an enthusiastic imperative that can't be ignored, even when things get really bad. All the paraphernalia the children bring with them eventually helps the car reach its destination. The bits and pieces, including a beach ball and surfboard, are attached to the collapsing car by the super-sticking qualities of the amazing chocolate marshmallow fudge delight, which is probably best not eaten anyway. The artwork is light-hearted and humorous, the rhythmical text jolly, and it's a very happy story.
BABY BILL AND LITTLE LILL. By Sue Heap. (Kingfisher, 5.99).
This lilting story about Baby Bill and Little Lill looking for a pet fishy rolls nicely off the tongue. On the way they meet friends who live on the hill who come along because they think there must be a party. The momentum builds, and when they reach a steep section of hill, they topple over BUMP! on the sand. But there's no time to play as it's getting dark. There's no chance to catch a pet fishy either, because Baby Bill has lost his bucket. Everyone troops back up the hill. Baby Bill cries, but later, when all is quiet and the moon is shining, the waves bring the bucket back to the beach. Baby Bill and Little Lill achieve their purpose at last, without the distraction of their noisy friends. The colourful, minimal illustrations bring out the essence of each scene.
IN A MINUTE!. By Virginia Miller. (Walker Books, 9.99).
Bartholomew Bear, or Ba for short, wants to join in with all the things his guardian George is busy doing. Ba tries to amuse himself with the washing and the sweeping, but George eventually grows annoyed with the interruptions, and Ba sits disconsolately and quietly at George's feet while he cleans the dishes. It's a situation that all parents and carers will recognise - the need to juggle tasks with attention to the children.
When George is at last free to play, Ba says 'Nah' to all the games George suggests, because all he really wanted to do was help with all the adult things. The illustrations are spare and warm, and the story unfolds at a good pace for younger children.
LITTLE ONES DO!. Written by Jana Novotny Hunter and illustrated by Sally Anne Lambert. (David & Charles, 8.99).
This busy little dragon is fulfilling his duties as a very helpful 'Little One' by waking up his sleepy parents and tickling them. When it's time to leave the house, he goes slow, 'Because that's what Little Ones do!' The text echoes children's emergent language skills, and it sounds good when read aloud. 'All together, one, two, three... Have a race to wash, wash face, Get dressed, pull on vest, say "Peepo!" Brush your hair and fetch your bear, Now Little One's ready to go!'
ROW YOUR BOAT. Written by Lisa Bruce and illustrated by Robin Bell Corfield. (Frances Lincoln, 10.99).
This version of the well-known rhyme, 'Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream' is extended to include the eight-legged octopus the rowers need to hide from, and lots more ideas about the boat journey itself. These include what will happen if a wave comes rolling by or if the wind blows hard. There are vignette illustrations at the end showing how to enact the verse, and there's music for the rhyme too.
WHO'S POORLY, TOO? (THE 'GET WELL SOON' BOOK). Written by Kes Gray and illustrated by Mary McQuillan. (Bodley Head, 9.99).
Here's a great book for cheering everyone up. The illustrations are fresh and accessible, with lots of extra details children will enjoy looking at on their own. Let's start with Cynthia, a centipede with a body that's so long it won't even fit on the page. She's pretty fed up, and for good reason, because she's 'strained 98 ankles playing hockey'. Hamish the hamster has bent his whiskers in his play-wheel, so that's serious too. Each animal, from Mohammed the mole who's banged his head underground, to Pedro the penguin who forgot to break the ice before diving for fish, is feeling sad. But it's reassuring to know that 'they all took their medicine and they all got better in the end', which, cleverly, is the last page of the book.
