The Hole by Kerry Brown illustrated by Lucia Masciullo

Down a winding pathway

'bout halfway through the woods,

sat a weary traveller

with a basket full of goods.

Don't you love a book with a cut-out front cover - in this case a hole inviting the reader to look inside! A little squirrel is off to visit her cousin Vera when she encounters a hole. She is curious. What could be down in this hole. She lowers herself down to the hole and gets stuck. Along comes an ostrich.  He puts his neck into the hole and finds he is wedged. Three monkeys come along. The join hands and jump into the hole.

The hole that once was empty

was filling to the brim

with a menageries of wildlife

who were feeling rather grim.

When a mouse finds the hole she cups her hands and calls out YOO HOO! I can imagine children hearing this story will all join in with the little field mouse. I love talking about echoes with young children. This book will be perfect to read-aloud.

The final visitor to the hole is a mole and the problem is solved. Since each animal was carrying a basket of goodies everyone can now share a feast washed down with a cup of tea.

There are so many terrific words used in this rhyming story.
menagerie
weary
blackened
shaft
fate
wee
scampered
din

Here is a set of teachers notes from the publisher. Here is a review from Reading Time. The Hole is a book I would share with children aged 3-6.

I have begun to think about 2018 Australian picture books. I wonder which titles will make our 2019 Children's Book Council Notable titles and then which will be included with the six on each short list.  I have made a Pinterest of Australian picture books published in 2018.

Other funny books about holes include Hill and Hole by Kyle Mewburn, The Hole by Oyvind Torseter, Rosalyn Rutabaga and the biggest hole on earth by Marie-Louise Gay and The Monster Hole by Mary Small (Aussie Nibble series). You could also compare this book with the famous Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson.

Kerry Brown is the author of All my Kisses and Lest we Forget. Lucia Masciullo is the illustrator of a large number of picture books, the novels about Olive of Groves and covers for books such as the Our Australian Girl series.