Mannie and the Long Brave Day by Martine Murray illustrated by Sally Rippin

"Wait a minute! What's in the box?"

Mannie is going on an adventure. She's taking her favourite elephant Lilliput and her doll Strawberry Luca. And she hasn't forgotten her special box of secret things, just in case the adventure gets adventurous.

There are some lovely ideas in this gentle story which celebrates imagination, play and the relationship of a young child with their special toys. Mannie wears her ladybug dress. Her doll, named Strawberry Lane, has no clothes so Mannie wraps her in a tea towel. Mannie has a box filled with special things. She likes to pull the noses of 'people' she loves such as her friend Lilliput the elephant.

They skip down the rocky road; creep, peep through the forest; splish splash through the wild winding river; stomp stomp up the lonely hill until they reach their picnic destination. At every turn the contents of the box fit the situation perfectly but then the sky grows dark because a storm in coming. Wait a minute - what's in the box? It is a ladder. That might be an extra surprise because you can see an umbrella on the book cover. At the top of the ladder Mannie and Lilliput push away the clouds. Then it is time to return home. 

There is a bonus glitter page surprise on the final page turn.

I missed this book back in 2009. I saw the cover this week when I was researching my blog post about our new Australian Children's Laureate - Sally Rippin. Hopefully many preschools still have this book on their shelves. It was published in hardcover (2009) and paperback (2019) and tonight I did find (and purchase) a brand new copy from eBay. This book is also listed for the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge (K-2 #28985).

This is a story about childhood, imagination and friendship. It’s a magical adventure that will delight children in a very special way because it perfectly captures the essence of what it means to be a kid. With beautiful repetitive phrases throughout and exquisite illustrations to explore, the story is a joy to read to an audience and super engaging for kids. One Child Smart

The delightful soft focus illustrations and alliterative, repetitive phrases encouraging readers' participation capture the inconsequential importance to small people of their favourite possessions, and special toys. Dangers are faced and resolution comfortingly offered. A magical story that celebrates friendship, courage and the wonder of a child's imagination. BookTrust

With beautiful repetitive phrases throughout and exquisite illustrations to explore, the story is a joy to read to an audience and super engaging for kids. Mannie and the Long Brave Day will make you smile. It will make you remember your childhood. It’s like a big warm hug. Kids' Book Review

You could pair this book with this famous title - both books are about a journey of imagination, both take place over one day and both end with everyone safe and sound back in bed: