Giddy the Great
Written by Jamie Rix and illustrated by Lynne Chapman
(Orchard Books, 10.99)
The exuberant pictures and words of this book pinpoint the meaning of friendship. In this case, it means stopping to think. Giddy the Goat finds it hard to pause even for a moment because of his unrelenting urge to climb. He travels the world to prepare for the Giant Pinnacle Race, testing his limits by climbing the Eiffel Tower and Nelson's Column. Only when installed on the dizzying summit of the Empire State Building (passing King Kong on the way) does Giddy stop to think. He returns home just in time for the race up the sheer slopes of the Giant Pinnacle, which is represented as a startling stone block shaped like forked lightning thrusting towards the sky. It's impenetrable to mere humans, and even sheep. In spite of this, Edmund the Sheep, Giddy's best friend, with quiet determination joins the race. Afterwards the best friends get on with the most important thing of all - talking. It's a message that keeps a spring in its hooves all the way to the end.
Baby's New Shoes
written by Dashka Slater and illustrated by Hiroe Nakata
(Bloomsbury, 5.99)
From the moment Baby (more like a toddler) gets her first pair of shoes, we're on starter's orders. We see her racing across the grass and down the street in her 'go-go-going shoes', scenes rendered in soft watercolours that mirror the tender relationship between mother and child. The mother indulges every new discovery and is only a little exasperated at the end when she sees the state of those new white shoes. They now bear the hallmarks of their dizzying adventure, including purple stains made by squished plums which just had to be investigated, and brown rings from a muddy puddle.
Stan and His Gran
by Sarah Garland
(Orchard Books, 5.99)
Many older people take on day-to-day care of their grandchildren, and this story offers a humorous and convincing insight into one of those relationships. This Gran relishes the opportunity to hang from playground bars - 'It's good for my joints, darling' - and be as active as her grandson. The authenticity of the scenarios should strike a chord with adults and children alike. Stan almost bursts into tears when they arrive at Gran's and can't find her front door key. When he notices his sister chewing the key, Stan surges forward - she is beginning to choke on it.
There's a lovely close-up of his sister's face, who of course isn't bothered about the choking, only miffed about having her toy taken away.
Stan finds the inside of Gran's house comfortingly familiar, and when Gran gives him his own key, this turns into a 'rites of passage' story. The illustrations offer so many additional little narratives that it's impossible to capture them all here.
George and the Dragon
by Chris Wormell
(Red Fox, 7.99)
This journey is about a dragon rampaging around his mountain kingdom, stealing a princess and so on. It romps along in traditional fashion until a mouse moves into the cave next door. George is a mouse with a sweet tooth, and when he calls round to ask his neighbour for some sugar, the dragon's Achilles heel is revealed: he is terrified of mice.
The dragon scarpers and in the admirably concise text we find out that George is disappointed that he won't be having any tea today... only to see him on the next page feasting with the princess he has set free. And just to assure us that the humans are safe for the long term, we see George ensconced in 'a cosy little hole in the castle wall' and the dragon cowering at a safe distance.
George's arrival in the story gives a glimpse of the dry humour. Attached to the cave roof, upside-down, are a bed, a table and what looks like an old gramophone, with the text: 'The previous owner had been a bat, so the fixtures and furnishings were most inconvenient.' Continuing the trend for picturebooks linked with CDs, this one features Brian Blessed telling the story, and a musical sound to signal each page turn.
