Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy illustrated by Polly Dunbar

I mentioned yesterday that my friend and I enjoyed shopping at a charity book fair yesterday. I am a huge fan of Margaret Mahy and so I was delighted to find this book in hardcover, with a dust jacket for only $1. Oh and it is in mint condition - I don't think any human hands have actually touched this book!

The text floats across the pages in waves and arcs, and Dunbar’s joyous watercolor-and–cut-paper illustrations are wonderfully expressive, a visual treat moving apace with the text. A frothy, effervescent gift. Kirkus Star review

Margaret Mahy is a master storyteller and she delights in using words. Here is the opening of Bubble Trouble:

"Little Mabel blew a bubble and it caused a lot of trouble, such a lot of bubble trouble in a bibble-bobble way ... "

The wayward bubble picks up the baby and he heads off into the sky for an adventure.

Margaret Mahy is not afraid to use invented words and unfamiliar words - such as cavil.

"In her garden, Chrysta Gribble had begun to cry and cavil at her lazy brother, Greville, reading novels in his bed."

Cavil: to make unreasonable complaints, especially about things that are not important

Here are some other delightful words: wafted, grovelled, shrilly, scrobble, gibbering, hovel, cavorting, flum-a-diddle, nefarious intentions, dumbfounded, and prattle.

So the baby in the bubble is followed by an assortment of people from the town over to the church where is seems certain his bubble will burst on the church steeple. These scenes reminded me of The Elephant and the Bad Baby. Then a rascal  named Abel picks up a pebble, places it in his slingshot and he bursts the bubble. Luckily he is caught in a patchwork quilt held by all the people who have been following his crazy bubble ride. 

"Oh, what calculated catchwork! Baby bounced into the patchwork, where his grizzles turned to giggles and to wriggles of delight. And the people stared dumbfounded as he bobbled and rebounded, till the baby boy was grounded and his mother held him tight."

Margaret Mahy is also a master of delicious names for her characters: Chrysta Gribble; Greville Gribble; Tybal; Mr Copple; and Mrs Threeble.

I adore the illustrations in this book by Polly Dunbar - they are light, joyous, exuberant, and filled with quirky people. 

The poem of Bubble Trouble first appeared in a poetry anthology by Margaret Mahy in 1991 with illustrations by Tony Ross. The picture book edition with illustrations by Polly Dunbar was published in 2008. 

I have so many favourite books by Margaret Mahy (type Mahy into my label search) picture books here are a few: