Oh! If Only by Michael Foreman

This is a brilliant book that teachers could use for writing inspiration. Sadly it is out of print but it might be in your school or local library. 

If only I hadn't met that dog ...

If only he didn't have that ball ...

If only he didn't want to play ...

And so begins a remarkably funny chain of events as one young boy and a dog unwittingly unleash the greatest havoc imaginable.

This story feels like a version of the butterfly effect. I would pair it with these:

And ...

Would you Rather ...

Foreman's minimal text sometimes tumbles and dances across the page, and his watercolor-and-pastel illustrations capture both motion and dumbstruck faces hilariously. Kirkus

With enchanting twists and turns, you will enjoy watching events unfold as the boy and his new found dog go on a romp around London causing mayhem along the way. The Book Bag

Two Giants by Michael Foreman

Two giants named Sam and Boris lived in harmony on a small island enjoying sunny days and in winter the soft white snow until the day they found a single pretty shell on the beach. 

"For the first time in their lives they began to argue. And as they did the sun went behind a cloud and and cloud became bigger and blacker. ... Before they could put their shoes on, a huge wave completely covered the beach. The wave swept away the shoes and the shell. The giants were furious and threw stones at each other as they ran towards the mountains to escape the flood."

The two giants are now positioned opposite one another on the top of two mountains. Over the years their battle continues as each day they throw stones (huge boulders) at each other. Meanwhile the weather stays cold and windy in direct contrast with the past when the two were friends.

This s a simple, sweet, classic story. It’s funny and it’s silly in places, and it’s told perfectly for children. So, when rocks are being thrown it’s not in a nasty, violent way, for example, but in an over the top one. The sort of thing only giants would do. Silly giants. There’s a message, though. Of course there’s a message. This one is about friendship and making mistakes, and forgiving people. It’s about how you shouldn’t let a silly falling out ruin your relationship with someone, and about how you can make up, be friends again, and go back to the adventures you used to have. The Book Bag

Michael Foreman illustrated his first book in 1961 and as recently as 2021 he has produced his most recent book: Noa and the Little Elephant. He has been nominated twice for the IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Medal. 

I saw this book for the first time yesterday. One of the library staff where I volunteer asked me if the library should keep this book - it is a book from 1967. The library copy was purchased in 2011 and it is in top condition but sadly it has only been borrowed once. I think this is a terrific book which teachers could use to talk about conflict and friendship. If you act really quickly here in Australia (June 2023) you can pick up a bargain copy of the 2015 reprint of this book with the cover above. The original cover is not as appealing and has a slightly different title - The Two Giants.

Michael Foreman books can seem simple but often explore deeper themes:

You could also look for these terrific books: