Mango & Bambang - The Not-a-Pig by Polly Faber illustrated by Clara Vulliamy

I am so excited to tell you about this book - Mango & Bambang The Not-a-Pig.  This little book is absolutely wonderful - a tiny gem.  I love EVERYTHING about this book.  The cover, the purple edged pages, the heroine Mango and most especially her shy friend, the tapir, Bambang.

Mango is walking in her big busy city when she sees a traffic jam.  She moves in closer to investigate the problem and sees a strange lump on the zebra crossing.  Here is a hint for you.  Tapir's have large sections of black and white fur. Mango works so hard to convince Bambang to follow her home.  She offers him banana pancakes with  syrup and cream.  Mango is kind and patient but she is also determined to help her new friend. Finally when all the city noises become unbearable and with the threat of  a digger roaring down the road, Mango bravely makes a loud speech using the police megaphone - hence the capital letters :

"THERE IS A TAPIR HERE.  HE WILL CROSS THE ROAD BUT HE IS FEELING A BIT NERVOUS.  HE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A BUSY CITY BEFORE, YOU SEE. I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF YOU COULD ALL TURN OFF YOUR ENGINES FOR A MOMENT ... AND THEN I CAN TALK TO HIM CALMLY AND WE WILL BE ON OUR WAY FOR BANANA PANCAKES VERY SHORTLY. ... THANKYOU."

This brave announcement works.  Everyone calms down and so Bambang uncurls from his little ball of fear and walks home with his new friend.  He knows he will be safe because he has always been keen on mangoes, perhaps there is no immediate threat from a tiger and there is the promise of pancakes

One special part of this story comes near the end.  In the last story it is Bambang who is able to rescue little Mango when she has to perform with her clarinet at the Big City Concert.  It would be fun to read this chapter with a little clarinet music playing in the background. You could also pick up  a copy of Herman and Rosie which has a similar final scene with a big city backdrop.  I would also pick up a copy of Tua and the Elephant which has a similar theme of animal rescue and care but for a slightly older reader.

There are four little interlinked stories in this book and with 142 pages it would be a perfect little read-a-loud for a young class or with your family.

This is the first book.  I hope the second arrives very soon.

How did I find this little book?  Once again I have to thank Bloomin' Books at Carringbah.  Kate Colley has a wonderful eye for terrific little books like this.

This is the first book by Polly Faber and she has been so lucky Walker Books asked Clara Vulliamy to be the illustrator.  Every picture on every page is a delight.

Mango and Bambang have their own web site. The video on this site is perfect.  Please take two minutes to watch.  Library Mice have an interview with Polly Faber and you can see some pages from this book.  You can read a glowing review here if I have not convinced you that this truly is a ten out of ten book!