Saturday, January 6, 2024

Bruno by Catharina Valckx illustrated by Nicolas Hubesch translated by Antony Shugaar


It would be fun to read this book to class when the children return to school perhaps. Teachers sometimes set the dreaded "what did you do in the holidays" writing task for their class. It might be fun to reverse this and ask the class to describe an ordinary day with friends or family. 

This book was published in 2017 by the wonderful Gecko Press. They sure do find some quirky and fun books to translate! Bruno has good days, bad days, so-so days, and even one perfect day. He is joined by his friends Ringo, the old pony; Bup, the fish; Georgette, the turtledove; and Tweety the mixed-up canary.

There are six 'chapters' in this book or rather six days with various, slightly inconsequential yet quirky, fun, odd and for Bruno even slightly annoying events.

Walker Books (agent for Gecko Press in Australia) blurb: Bruno, the cat in the checkered cap, takes life as it comes. When it’s too rainy to go outside, his friends come around for breakfast. When a fish invites him into the river, he follows it. Why not! When the canary forgets how to talk, Bruno helps out. Days come and go, and for Bruno they always bring something interesting. And once in a while, a day comes along that is just about perfect!

Readers and listeners with a taste for the quietly surreal may find this an (almost) perfect option; the rest will find other ways to fill their days, and that’s OK. Kirkus

Betsy Bird included this book in her Early Chapter book list of 2017

Bruno does contain the word 'stupid'. I know from past experience this word sometimes shocks young children. As always you do need to read this book for yourself before sharing it with a group of children.

Here are two other books that I loved by Catharina Vlackx:






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