The Magic Cap by Mireille Messier illustrated by Charlotte Parent

Isaura and Arlo live in a small, thatched cottage in the woods with their pet hedgehog Crispin. Sadly, Crispin becomes very unwell. The children try to help him, but nothing works so they decide to find a gnome. 

"Because gnomes are magical. If we find one we could ask it to help Crispin."

The problem is - how do you find a gnome? The children decide to lure the gnome with some food but sadly food is a "rare commodity" so they can only pour the last of their milk into a small bowl. Unfortunately, the bowl of milk temps a number of forest animals - a deer, fox, squirrel, badger and others and soon all the milk is gone and there is no gnome. But giving this milk was a act of generosity and kindness and so the next day the forest animals lead the children into a different part of the forest where they find blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. But (sorry to keep saying but) as with all good storytelling this one has lows, and highs, and another low and hopefully (wait for it) a happy ending. A sneaky frog eats all the fruit and only one mushroom is left. The children settle down to wait just in case a gnome does come and because they are hungry and tired they fall asleep.

"When they woke up, the children could not believe their eyes."

There are two gold coins and these coins will be enough to buy food for many years to come. But (here we go again) little Crispin is still very unwell. The children move away to look for something that will warm him up and while they are gone something magical happens.

How do you judge a picture book?

• Cover - this one is so appealing and uses spot varnish to add a shine which is revealed when you move the cover. The title - The Magic Cap - matches the cover image of a magical character - a gnome - wearing his bright orange/red cap. He has a simple face but he looks so content. Later you will discover the title has two possible meanings. 
• End Papers - In this book they are filled with a pattern a little like a patchwork quilt and later when you read the book you will see other patterns just like this on quilts, clothes, their tea pot, bed covers, and floor coverings.

• A satisfying story - I have already shared the highs and lows of the story and of course there is that all important glorious happy ending. This is also a classic 'rags to riches' story and also exemplifies the theme 'one good turn deserves another'. 
• Lyrical language - just think about these words - a tiny, thatched cottage; hunched silently behind a bush; breakfast was a symphony of sad sounds; nature is teeming with wonderful delights.
• Pages where the illustrations tell a story that goes way beyond the text and in this book there is also a wordless page.

The Magic Cap is a Canadian picture book - they always produce wonderful picture books in Canada. It was also published in French with the title Le bonnet magique. In Australia this book is available from Thames and Hudson. 

Bookseller blurb: Inspired by folktales, writer Mireille Messier and illustrator Charlotte Parent present a heartwarming picture-book story full of vibrant color imagery about devotion and generosity, for all lovers of gnomes and whimsical forest creatures. Many moons ago, in a tiny, thatched cottage at the edge of the woods, lived two children named Isaura and Arlo with their hedgehog, Crispin. When their beloved pet becomes ill, Isaura suggests that they seek the magical healing power of gnomes. Convinced this will heal Crispin, the children set off into the woods with humble offerings, hoping to attract the gnomes. The trick does not seem to work, however, and gnomes are nowhere to be seen despite the children’s good intentions. Isaura and Arlo will have to remain hopeful and wish for a magical solution!

The Magic Cap has all the hallmarks of a traditional tale, with its straightforward telling and familiar elements: children living on their own far from other humans; a close, unthreatening relationship with undomesticated animals; a search for something magical to solve a problem. Canadian Review

Read more about Mireille Messier here.

Kirkus Star review

Kirkus Star review

A home for gnomes by Margaret Clark illustrated by Gus Gordon

Margaret Clark is a master story teller and there can be no better evidence than her writing within the constraints of a little Aussie Nibble. Even with only 64 pages and a very small word limit Margaret Clark is able to write an enchanting story for our youngest readers.

Five gnomes live a secret life with Miss Mackie, helping in her garden and providing companionship for this isolated elderly lady. In her turn Miss Mackie teaches the gnomes how to read by reading them Fairy Tales and she makes all their clothes and shoes.

One day Miss Mackie leaves and while the gnomes valiantly try to keep things going it is obvious Miss Mackie is not going to return. This is especially clear when the bulldozers arrive one day and start to demolish their beloved garden. It is time for action. The gnomes pack their treasured possessions – the book of Fairy Tales for Quince and for Lilly all seven pairs of undies, one for each day of the week, that Miss Mackie has made for her.

First stop is the supermarket called Mother Hubbard’s cupboard. Alas Miss Mackie is not to be found among all the intriguing groceries. After crossing the road (a feat in itself) they see the Royal Hospital for Women but since Miss Mackie is not a Royal Queen or a Princess they continue on their journey. Next stop The Sleeping Beauty Rest Home. Here they find their beloved Miss Mackie and a wonderful new home.

I am reading all of our Aussie Nibbles over the next few weeks. This new title is a winner.

Norman does Nothing by Jen Storer illustrated by Andrew Joyner

I have set myself a challenge to read all of the Aussie Bites and Aussie Nibbles in our school library over the next month. This is partly because so many new titles from these two terrific series have arrived, partly because one Nibble - The Deep End, has been short listed for the CBCA awards and partly because I want to expand my repertoire (meaning the titles I read to classes and the ones I regularly recommend to readers) past Poor Fish, Hot Stuff, Green Fingers, The Horrible Holiday, One Night at Lottie's House, The Bugalugs bum thief, Moving House, The Princess who hated it and the Too tight Tutu.

Tonight I read Norman Does Nothing and even now, hours later, I am still smiling. This book is just charming. Norman is a gnome who lives patiently in the garden of Mr Goodfellow. Everything Norman knows about the world comes from Mr Goodfellow, listening to his radio, his television, talking books and his lovely piano playing. Then one day Mr Goodfellow is driven away in a fancy car with not one but two suitcases! "The driver swung the suitcases into the boot and slammed it shut... Norman waited for Mr Goodfellow to wave goodbye. But he didn't. He waited for Mr Goodfellow to look back. But he didn't".

Norman's life is about to descend into chaos. A young girl - Norman calls her Darling - and her mother arrive at the house. His lovely regulated environment is totally disrupted. Darling rides her roller skates down the front path, she plays with a hoop and worst of all she uses a skipping rope like a lasso. "He feared for his life ... was this to be his fate? Lassoed and strangled by a rope wielding squatter cowgirl?"

Then comes the biggest shock of all. Darling picks Norman up and she takes him for a ride in her doll pram. Their first adventure is 'out the back' where he endures a humiliating tea party with the dolls. Next stop is the kitchen where Darling gives him a range of accessories including a Rasta hat and finally Norman is put into a bike basket and he rides to the park with Darling at 500km per hour. This is party exhilarating and partly terrifying. Disaster strikes, though, when Darling has a bad fall from her bike and Norman himself sails through the air landing far away.

As with all the Aussie Bites there are only 85 pages in this little chapter book and yet Jen Storer manages to give her readers a taut and hilarious story. It is also exciting to have a book in which the briefest reference is all that is needed to piece together so many aspects of the story for example the relationship between Darling, her mother and Mr Goodfellow. The illustrations deserve a special mention. They are by Andrew Joyner - my students loved The Terrible Plop from the CBCA awards in 2010.

I now also see that Jen Storer is the author of Tensy Farlow which I also reviewed on this blog and by coincidence a student in Year 4 was just talking to me about Tensy Farlow yesterday and explaining why this is the first book that has totally hooked her in as a reader - she loved the cliff hanger chapters and the sinister elements. Tensy Farlow is a far more sophisticated novel and it is impressive to see that Jen Storer is such a versatile writer.