Room for a Little One by Martin Waddell illustrated by Jason Cockroft

Tuesday Treasure

for 

Christmas

"It was a cold winter's night.
Kind Ox lay in his stable
close to the side of the inn."

A dog comes by - an Old Dog. Kind Ox invites him in.

"There's always room for a little one here."

A cat comes by. Stray Cat is welcomed by Kind Ox and assured she is safe by Old Dog. The next visitor is a mouse. Small Mouse is also welcomed and assured of safety. Finally Tired Donkey arrives with Mary and Joseph. Tired Donkey brings Mary into the stable. A baby is born that night with all the animals watching over the new family.

"There's always room for a little one here."

Eloquent, accessible and moving in its simplicity Publisher's Weekly

The language used is simple but poetic.  The phrase, 'There's always room for a little one here,' is repeated on every spread, inviting the listener to join in. I love how the animals, who would be enemies outside the barn, are here united by their common need for warmth and shelter. An Awfully Big Blog Adventure


Room for a Little One was first published in 2004. I am happy to see it is still available but oddly there have been some minor changes to the cover. The differences between the fonts used here would make a good discussion point for an older group of students. You could also talk about the use of subtitles. Does this cover need to say "A Christmas Tale"?

The illustrations in this book are so beautiful - you almost want to stroke them.  For art students they would be an excellent way to explore the use of light and shade. When you pick up this book take your time -  read slowly.  Then go back and look at the eyes of these animals. They are so expressive. Jason Cockcroft is famous but you may not know his name. He was the illustrator of the covers for these three Harry Potter books.

Here are some other books illustrated by Jason:

Martin Waddell is also very famous. I am sure you know his name and some of his most loved books such as Owl Babies, Farmer Duck, The Tough Princess, The Hidden House, the Little Bear series, and The Park in the Dark.

Big by Tim Hopgood

Yesterday I talked about Little Answer by Tim Hopgood.  I think Big is even better.  Size is such an abstract concept.  When a new Kindergarten child enters our school library it looks so BIG.  When students call in to visit after they have left Primary and headed off to High School the first thing every student says is 'wow this library looks so small!'

I think my favourite page comes early in the book when the little boy explains he is growing bigger and the evidence for this is that he can now see his face in the bathroom mirror.  The illustration is just perfect.

If you need a way to explain the way size is relative think about these words :

"To an ant, I'm a ginormous giant. But next to a bear I'm really quite small."  The accompanying text on these pages moves from large to tiny which adds to the fun.

You could pair this book with I'm coming to get you illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura which has the most perfect surprise ending.  You might also enjoy Counting on Frank and How big is big which was written by some students at a Primary school here in Sydney.  I mention Counting on Frank because it jumped into my mind when I read the words "Next to a popcorn I'm massive.  I must be at least 500 popcorns tall."  Here is a maths lesson everyone would enjoy.

I would also link this book with a very old title - Leo the late bloomer which is the perfect book to explore the idea of growing and changing with young children.

Once you have read Big you will want to set up one of those height measuring charts or use a door frame in your home as you explore the idea of growing taller with a young child.

Here is an interview with Tim Hopgood.  I can see we will need to add many more of his special picture books to our library collection.

Goldilocks and just one bear by Leigh Hodgkinson

Even after years and years of reading and collecting picture books I still treasure the way their creators can say so much in with a brief text.  Picture books often feel like poems.  This one does.

Here is a well known opening line “Once upon a time”. You have heard this before but it is the next four words that really set the tone for this hilarious story.  “Once upon a time, there was this bear.”  The word that stands out for me is “this”.  It could say “a bear” or “the bear” or “my bear”.  Can you see how each small words completely changes the tone and emphasis of this beginning?

So who is this bear?  Yes we have met him before.  He has been lolloping in the woods – another fabulous word and now he hasn't a “crumb-of-a-clue” where he is.  Bear feels scared and uncomfortable so he seeks solace in the nearest high rise city block called “Snooty Towers”.  If you have not read the title of this book the youngest reader might now begin to recognise links with a familiar tale as our bear hero needs to sit down and perhaps find a spot of porridge.

Here we have Goldilocks and the Three bears part two.  Reading this romp bought to mind another favourite topsy turvey version of the Goldilocks story that I love to share with children – Somebody and the three Blairs by Marilyn Tolhurst. Just as an aside to the review at hand,  it is fun to see at which age children appreciate the humour of Somebody and the three Blairs.  Age five can be a little bit too young when listeners do not like to hear changes to the story line but by age six or seven I can barely read this book aloud for all the laughter especially when we see Somebody trying to drink from the small pond which is in fact the toilet!

I have not had the chanced to read Goldilocks and just one bear to a young audience but do I like it even more than Somebody and the three Blairs,  probably because of the ingenious twist at the end.  I will not spoil your delight. 

Another aspect of this book that I loved is the rich and delicious vocabulary it contains.  Words like owl-hooting, tickety-boo, pleasant, scoffing and plonked along with the zany illustrations and various fun fonts.

One final piece of advice : Take your time when you open this book there are things to discover right from the beginning including a terrific “to do” list written by the young Goldilocks.  Also Leigh Hodgkinson has a marvelous web site and based on my enjoyment of this book I will eagerly seek out others by this talented UK author/illustrator.  You can find reviews of more 'fractured fairy tale picture books" here.