Nursery World - Under a cloud

There are silver linings to all the problems encountered by the odd and interesting characters whom young children are bound to identify with in this latest batch of story books reviewed by Alison Boyle Max and the Rainbow Rain Hat. by Gus Clarke. (Andersen Press, Pounds 9.99)

Max and the Rainbow Rain Hat. by Gus Clarke. (Andersen Press, 9.99)

I'm a bit of a fan of endpapers because they can offer a hint about the theme of a book, or even ring it out loud and clear. The front endpapers here show 28 sumptuously purple rain clouds and the back endpapers show 28 bright yellow suns. So what's the story about? Well, Max is a bunny, but not a happy bunny. He's a bunny who has no reason to smile. And neither have the animals that live roundabout, because they always get wet if they come too close to Max. This is a heart-warming story where Max gradually eases himself into happiness by way of a rainbow hat that he crafts from lost feathers. The illustrations show thrillingly how the vibrant hat grows bigger and bigger as Max's unhappiness shrinks.

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