The Beautiful Layers of me by Sophia Payne illustrated by Ruchi Mhasne

Blurb: Aunty is getting married! Ameena feels beautiful in her new salwar kameez. But when someone comments on her 'pyjamas', Ameena is suddenly a bit less sure about her traditional dress.

Ameena’s emotional twists and turns feel authentic and relatable, and her eventual pride in her outfit—and, by extension, her identity—will resonate with young people. In Mhasane’s tidily composed illustrations, the brown-skinned family’s bright ensembles pop against the relatively subdued backgrounds. Babu’s words—“These clothes are a part of our heritage”—hearten Ameena and will do the same for readers ... Kirkus

Payne does a wonderful job highlighting the inner conflict of identity in America, where one’s family and heritage are often viewed as “other” to white Americans.  Ameena initially hesitates to embrace what she truly finds beautiful because of the judgment of someone who doesn’t understand. With the support of those who do, she honors herself and takes pride in what she knows is right. The story is beautiful and tender, and while it is clearly written and centered for young Indian girls, it also serves as a good lesson for those outside of this culture. YS Book reviews

I do hope you can find, read and appreciate this book. I discovered it in the library where I work as a volunteer. The talented Teacher-Librarian uses international (and national) book lists and book awards to build her rich library collection. One of these lists is Inclusive Books for Children.

The judges said: For its sensitive and powerful exploration of belonging, cultural identity and difference, showing how children can embrace all parts of themselves. Its warm, gentle illustrations, rich narrative depth and “quiet power” were seen as emotionally resonant, educationally valuable and accessible to a wide range of children.

You will need a box of tissues when you read The Beautiful Layers of me. And I love the way this book can be both a mirror and a window. It could also be a fantastic way to talk about the power of words to harm but also heal. Take a look at my Pinterest collection called "She looks like me". 

If you are reading this book to a group in your school library you might like to talk about the salwar kameez worn by Ameena:

A salwar kameez is a traditional outfit originating from the Indian subcontinent, cherished for its comfort and elegance. It consists of three main parts: the kameez, a long tunic; the salwar, a pair of loose-fitting trousers; and often a dupatta, a matching long scarf. Widely worn in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, this versatile ensemble can be styled for everything from daily errands to formal weddings, making it a staple in wardrobes worldwide. 

• Kameez (The Tunic): This is the top part of the outfit. A kameez can vary in length from hip-length to ankle-length and comes in a multitude of cuts, necklines, and sleeve styles. 
• Salwar (The Trousers): These are the pants worn under the kameez. The traditional salwar is pleated and voluminous at the top, tapering to a narrow cuff at the ankle. However, this component has many modern variations. 
• Dupatta (The Scarf): A long, rectangular scarf, the dupatta adds a layer of grace and can be styled in numerous ways draped over one shoulder, both shoulders, or used as a head covering. While integral to traditional sets, some contemporary styles are worn without one. 

You can see more books by Sophia Payne here. Read this review from Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.

Here are other books illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane:

About Ruchi Mhasane: I'm an artist from India who has studied illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. I have always drawn pictures, but after my MA in Children's Book Illustration, I've realised that visual narratives are a form that I enjoy immensely and am very comfortable with. I love drawing figures, especially children, and I enjoy capturing their movements and gestures. I am now committed to a lifelong study of the form of a picture book, and to developing the way a book talks to a child (or even adult!) I hope to work on books with meaningful content that will delight and inspire young children, so they too can fall in love with books the way so many of us have.

Companion books:

Amma's Sari

The Thing about Christmas by Jo Dabrowski illustrated by Briony Stewart

Just when you think you have read every possible variation on a Christmas book along comes this one - The Thing about Christmas. Do not worry - I have not gone mad - I know it is March and not December but The Thing about Christmas is a 2026 CBCA Early Childhood Notable title.

The joy of this book is twofold - the illustrations interpret and go way beyond the rhyming text AND this book acknowledges that Christmas does not need to follow a formula. Your family may be small, or mum and dad might live in separate houses or perhaps you don't celebrate this season or Christmas might coincide with a deeply sad event in your life (make sure you look very closely at that page where we see a tiny photo of the family). 

The final words sum up the 'message' of this book (sorry it is not really a message in the sense of being too didactic so please don't worry about my use of the word 'message').

"There's no right or wrong, whatever you do. Christmas in your home's unique, just like you. Because Christmas is not about all of that stuff. Christmas is love and love is enough."

The CBCA judges agree the 'standout' feature of the book are the illustrations:

Taking a closer look at the illustrations - on the first page a child sits in front of a screen looking at an idealised Christmas scene with all the trappings of tree, presents, lights, big family, stockings and a glowing fire. Even though we only have a back view it is very clear this is NOT the Christmas this child will experience. Turn the page and we zoom in on the real-life scene we just saw on the screen which then means the next page might give you a jolt as again we see a child, a different child, standing beside a tiny, slightly forlorn Christmas tree with only a couple of small presents underneath. This child is not looking at a screen, instead he can see a different family-filled celebration in the house next door. It is equally sad when we see a child sitting in a empty room with their two stocking/socks hung over a wall heater and not over the traditional chimney. 

For me, though, the most powerful and poignant page is the one with this text:

"Or maybe your Christmas is split up in two, and the one thing you wished for didn't come true."

Now go back through the whole book and notice the repeated children and their adults. The girl dropped off by her dad appears in another scene decorating a gingerbread house with her mum. The boy who is looking at the neighbours, is later seen with his brother and grandmother having fun with their sword presents and their mince pies on the table! 

Image source: Little Book Press

In another scene dad has died but for Christmas, mum and her son have fun in the sun at the beach. In an early scene we see the family with their chicken, not turkey, dinner and then on Christmas day mum has had her baby, so all the family are seen visiting the hospital. The final double page spread is a summary of each family presented as a reflection in a Christmas bauble - such a lovely way to recap the story. 

The thing about Christmas is that it is an intensely individual festival for each and every person and family. This book is a sublime insight into that concept. Just so Stories

So much care and love has been poured into every illustration in The Thing about Christmas. Briony Stewart used a similar technique of connected stories in her book These Little Feet. 

In all honesty I would never use these but here are the teacher's notes for The Thing about Christmas. 

In 2023 I penned a blog post about the illustrator Briony Stewart. Perhaps you saw her terrific book about the Tooth Fairy.

Tooth Fairy

I previously talked about the other two books (three in total) that Jo Dabrowski has on the CBCA 2026 Notables list - Dear Broccoli and The Making of Martha Mayfield.

Last Stop on Market Street Matt de la Pena illustrated by Christian Robinson

Through simple yet powerful storytelling, Matt de la Peña explores themes of gratitude, perspective, and community. CJ begins the story feeling envious of what others have, 

but as he listens to his grandmother’s wisdom, he comes to see value in his experiences—in the people they meet, in the music of the streets, and in the sense of belonging 

that isn’t tied to material wealth. The book captures how young children process social differences and how caregivers can shape their understanding of privilege, joy, and human connection. Reading is Resistance

Last Stop on Market Street is a timeless masterpiece transcending age and genre, creating an immersive reading experience that will stay with readers long after turning the final page. This book is not just a journey through the city; it’s a journey of the heart—a celebration of diversity, resilience, and the beauty of the human spirit. Allow yourself to be transported by its magic. 

The Children's Book Review

It is easy to see this is part of CJ and his grandmother's weekly routine. After church they head to the bus stop. CJ has lots of questions but it is the answers that are truly special. His grandmother is filled with the joy of life even though clearly, as we discover, life is tough - she always has a positive answer to questions such as 'Nana how come we don't got a car?'; 'How come we always gotta go here after church?'; and 'How come it's always so dirty over here?'.

The bus is filled with many different people - not in a forced didactic way - if you have been on a suburban bus, you have seen they are usually filled with a variety of people from all walks of life. We see an older lady, a businessman, a young boy with tattoos, a blind man with his guide dog and a guitar player. The bus feels like a small community. His grandmother reacts to each person in a genuine and warm way - what a beautiful example for CJ to follow. When the guitar man plays his tunes, the experience of this bus ride becomes quite magical - but where are they going?

Last stop on Market Steet is a soup or community kitchen. It is in a poor part of town, but CJ sees a rainbow and the scene is transformed. Now look closely at the final page - have CJ and Nana come here for food - no - why are they here?

Last Stop on Market Street won the 2016 Caldecott Medal. 

Other awards:

• 2016 Caldecott Honor Book
• 2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book
• #1 New York Times Bestseller
• New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of 2015
• NPR Best Book of 2015
• Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2015
• Wall Street Journal Best Book of 2015
• 2015 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
• Horn Book Best Book of 2015
• The Huffington Post Best Overall Picture Book of 2015
• Boston Globe Best Book of 2015
• Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2015
• 2015 E.B. White Read Aloud Award Finalist

The air smelled like freedom, but it also smelled like rain, 

which freckled CJ's shirt and dripped down his nose.

He ducked under his nana's umbrella, saying 'How come we gotta wait for the bus in all this wet?' 'Trees get thirsty, too,' his nana told him. 'Don't you see that big one drinking through a straw?' CJ looked for a long time but he never saw a straw.'

You need to take your time reading this book - the story unfolds slowly.

Last Stop on Market Street doesn’t make political points. It just shows a visit to a soup kitchen from a small child’s perspective. The lead up to their arrival shows community spirit and strangers being nice to each other (whether they are heavily tattooed, or elderly ladies, or blind men with guide dogs). And the soup kitchen is an extension of that – from CJs point of view, it is about being nice to others and helping those who need help. So while it may be, on one level, an ‘issue’ book, it is also a simple ‘day in the life’ story of a little boy, who just happens to regularly go to a church, and take a bus to help out in a soup kitchen. It can be read in that simple way for children to enjoy and make sense of however they wish. But it also opens a window to experiences that are (hopefully) outside of their own and make them think about the difficulties that other people suffer....  It’s an observation of the world, designed to make us and our children think. Rhubarb and Wren

Christian Robinson’s acrylic and collage illustrations are smart, captivating snapshots of CJ’s day as he watches and interacts with a variety of people on the bus and at the soup kitchen. The visual camaraderie of the passengers—old and young, tattooed, talented, and disabled—as they talk together and smile at one another will cheer readers. The color scheme of bright and pastel colors shared from page to page enhances the book’s themes of interconnectedness and cohesion, and the clean, unadorned images reflect the idea that often the simple things in life really are the best. Celebrate Picture Books

Companion books (including one for older readers):

It's a no money day

Free Lunch

Troll by Frances Stickley illustrated by Stefano Martinuz

"There beneath the bridge unseen,

he found is easy to be mean.

Disguised beneath the bog and bubbles,

Troll could never get in trouble.

No one even knew his name."

Anyone that comes near his lair is subject to terrible abuse by troll. 

"I'll shove those turnips up your nose." "I'll squash your bun." "I'll spit on you. That bunch of bad weeds stinks like poo."

Then one day a little white rabbit comes along. Troll tries shouting his usual insults but instead of running away the she comes closer. 

"She pointed towards her ears and shook her head. 'I cannot hear, but please repeat the things you said. I'll try to read your lips instead."

Troll feels ashamed. He no longer wants to be mean. He practices being polite and kind and then he sets off to visit all the animals that he previously treated so badly.

You can see inside this book here. And you will want to look for other versions of The Three Billy Goats Gruff or perhaps begin by reading couple of these before you share Troll.

Publisher blurb: In this funny tale, inspired by both internet trolls and The Three Billy Goats Gruff, there is a terrifying troll that lives under a bridge. Unseen, he delights in shouting nasty things to passers-by. But when a d/Deaf bunny unwittingly faces up to him, he realises that it's not so fun to say nasty things to someone's face. Can Troll finally learn to love himself and others?

Troll is on the Empathy Lab list. This is a fabulous resource which will give you some terrific titles to consider for your school library. Read more here. 

The Empathy Lab annotation says: Everyone’s scared of Troll, who revels in being mean. Then a little rabbit asks: ‘you seem so cross. Is something wrong?’ which triggers real change. Troll practices saying kinder things, including to himself. About understanding yourself before you can be kind.

Inspired by internet trolls, cloaked in anonymity, he delights in shouting mean things to passersby, hurting feelings just for fun. That's until a little deaf rabbit unknowingly crosses his path and shows concern for the Troll as he looks so cross. Finally understanding the hurt his words and actions have caused, Troll learns the errors of his ways and realises his behaviour has isolated him and caused so much harm to others. Love Reading4Kids

The Kids Book Curator explains how this book can teach children about tolls and trolling on the internet. 

Inclusive Book Awards

IBC, a literary charity whose free website makes it easy for families, librarians and teachers to source books to diversify their bookshelves. Now in their second year, the awards span three categories focusing on diverse titles for younger readers: baby & toddler books (for ages one to three), picture books (for ages three to seven) and highly illustrated children’s fiction (for ages five to nine).

Here is the winner and one of the shortlisted titles for 2025:

Two People Can, created by an award-winning Zimbabwean poet and British illustrator, explores loss, change and family, capturing the emotions of a mother and child in a deeply affecting way. 

Blurb: Shingai's father has gone and Shingai and his mum are all alone and feeling lost. Shingai can’t contain the whirlwind of emotions inside him any more. He needs to let his feelings out.

Shingai is grieving his father, and his grief comes out as anger. He smashes the flowers in the garden and then begins to 'attack' things in the house. At first mum is so upset with him but then she realises her son needs to express his grief so in a beautiful moment she completely changes her reaction and grabs two boxes of cereal, and she shakes their contents all over the floor. Then mum sits down and cries. Shingai runs outside because seeing his mum crying is just too much. Under some bushes he sees two flowers still standing tall - these flowers escaped his earlier rampage. 

"Dad is gone but we're the two flowers left, and we still have each other."

Publisher blurb: Aminah's life is full of warmth and joy, from days spent in the golden sunshine eating juicy mangoes, to evenings curled up reading adventure stories with her grandfather, Da. But one day, Aminah is told she'll be leaving with her parents for their very own adventure, one that will take her away from Da and the sunny comforts of the life she's known . . .

Aminah moves to a completely different country - it looks like the UK. Her old home was filled with colours especially lots of yellow but this new place is cold and dull and so sad. Her grandfather is full of encouragement. He cannot be with them but they can talk on the phone and he is sure Aminah will find her colour again. She sees a beautiful yellow coat in a shop. It is perfect for a game in the snow and that is where Aminah finds a new friend. 

It would be great to pair this with our Australian book:

Here are the 2025 shortlisted titles:

Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green and Francis Martin

Strong Like Me by Kelechi Okafor and Michaela Dias-Hayes

Terrible Horses by Raymond Antrobus and Ken Wilson-Max

Two People Can by Blessing Musariri and Maisie Paradise Shearring

Until You Find the Sun by Maryam Hassan and Anna Wilson

Destiny Ink: Sleepover Surprise by Adeola Sokunbi

Keisha Jones Is a Force of Nature by Natalie Denny and Chanté Timothy

Marv and the Humongous Hamster by Alex Falase-Koya and Paula Bowles

Secret Beast Club: The Mer-People of Crystal Pier by Robin Birch and Jobe Anderson

You can find the 2024 shortlisted picture book titles and Fiction for ages 6-9. One of them was this one:

Budgie

The IBC web page has an extensive collection of their favourite titles. These lists go on for over 50 pages so set aside some time to explore these terrific suggestions. Here are a few that I would love to read:

Kirkus review

Higher Ground publisher blurb: After a great flood swallows their city, a wise grandmother, her two grandchildren, and their pet rabbit find themselves stranded on the only safe place left—the rooftop of their home. With nothing but their small garden and a handful of supplies, they must learn to survive in a world where the familiar streets have turned to endless water. Days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, as they face hunger, storms, and the uncertainty of what lies beyond the horizon. But through each hardship, the grandmother shares words of wisdom, teaching her grandchildren the power of resilience, kindness, and hope. As their garden grows, so too does their belief that even in the darkest times, life finds a way forward.

Publisher blurb: This is the lyrical true tale of the author’s refugee journey with her family from Vietnam to the United Kingdom at just three years old, leaving home behind to set out in a tiny boat, first down a muddy river delta and then across the vastness of the sea. Spare, intimate, and rooted in specific history yet also profoundly universal, Chi Thai’s story is a reflection of crossings made daily in all corners of the world by families like hers who brave hunger, thirst, fear, and uncertainty in search of safety and a place to call home. With poetic text and warm, child-friendly illustrations from artist Linh Dao, this is the story of one remarkable family’s courage and resilience.

Bookseller blurb: Lots of people look after Fatima and her friends at the children's home, but Aunty Rae always makes Fatima feel special and loved. Even as the other children leave with their new parents, Aunty Rae encourages and cares for Fatima, filling her life with warmth and hope. Through the uncertainty and disappointments, Aunty Rae is a constant support. Together, Fatima and Aunty Rae look out at the bright North Star and dream of Fatima's happy future with a family waiting for her somewhere. But the brightest light in Little Fatima's life is her Aunty Rae, her bright shining star.

Bookseller blurb: Juhi loves helping her Appa sell flowers to the local community. In Appa's flower shop, Juhi knows the language of love - lilies for adoration, irises for hugs and kisses. She knows the language of faith - frangipani for full moon days, red hibiscus for the temple. But when her Appa tells her that her favourite customer has passed away, she does not know the language of grief. While Appa makes a bouquet of lilies and orchids to bring to Mr Potter's funeral, Juhi decides to make him one final bouquet of her own. What flowers will she choose to remember a man who was always so full of life?

Publisher blurb: Bibi and Mo love to watch the first swallows arriving home to their lake in the summer. But soon, just like the swallows, Bibi has to go north for work. He tells Mo to think of him flying with the birds, and just like the swallows, when summer comes again, he will journey across the cities, oceans, grasslands and jungle, and over the tops of the mountains back to Mo.

Publisher blurb: Eunny wakes up slowly. She gets out of bed, goes to the window to look out at the busy street, and then heads downstairs. Soon it's time for school. Eunny and Mama step out into the crisp day, but they don't rush. They notice the pretty pink petals of new flowers, the changing red-gold leaves and the big blue sky above. It's easy to be happy on a blue sky morning.

The Girl at the Front of the Class by Onjali Q Rauf illustrated by Pippa Curnick

It is absolutely essential to spend time exploring the front end papers of this book (and later the back ones too). On the front end paper you should be able to gain a tiny understanding of where the young girl from the title has come from and what horrors she has experienced - a crowded journey by boat; burning houses; broken hearts; and the sadness of leaving friends and pets. This is reinforced on the half title page the little girl is standing in the rain with such a sad face. 

A young girl arrives in Mrs Rivers class. She is silent. She is sad. She sits alone. Mrs Rivers gives the little girl some paper and pencils but instead of drawing happy things she draws broken tents; an orange crowded boat; and people who are crying. 

"I wanted to know why the girl at the front of the class drew such sad drawings and why she never spoke. ... 'Because', said Mrs Rivers, 'even though she's just like you, she has had to leave her home, and her parents and her school, and her friends too'".

He dad offers further advice and so does his grandmother. I love that this boy is a problem solver. He is sure there is a way to be kind. He gathers supplies and begins to make something special in their classroom. Gradually the girl comes closer until the important day when the boy is able to offer his friendship.

This is an important book for very young children about the refugee experience. It should be shared with a class with refugee children and classes or in a school with no refugee children as a way to build empathy.

Honouring the transformational effect ‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’ has had on school children, she brings a new story on the same theme ‘The Girl and the Front of the Class’. Paired with one of the most respected and loved illustrators, Pippa Curnick, this book is beautifully produced by the whole team - glossy, engaging, visually stunning, inclusive characters, and school-based once more, and always honouring a love of books.  Kids Book Curator

You can see other books illustrated by Pippa Curnick here. And also here is the website for Onjali Q Rauf.

Here is my Pinterest collection of Picture books which explore The Refugee Experience. I would pair this with The Colour of Home.

The Colour of Home

I am a huge fan of Onjali Q Rauf. I have read all of these Middle Grade books so when I saw she had a picture book I was keen to see it too.

Night Bus Hero

The Boy at the Back of the Class

The Star outside my Window

The Letter with the Golden Stamp

The Lion above the Door

Magic Beach by Alison Lester

Magic Beach is now a movie BUT ... begin with the book - then see the movie - you and your young child will really appreciate this experience so much more if you are familiar with the book by Alison Lester.

After reading the iconic book by Alison Lester, nine children and a dog find themselves on the titular Magic Beach. They explore caves, build giant sandcastles, poke around rock pools and converse with sea creatures. This is where their animated imaginations begin… James dives with horses in the waves, sandcastles are built and destroyed in terrible wars, pirates smuggle treasure, and dreamtime serpents fly through the sky and shed their scales. The dreams of these children are limitless and reflect the uninhibited nature of being a child at the beach. The children awake from their animated imaginations to find themselves back in real life, but the beach will be in their heart forever. Movie Insider

One of our local cinemas hosted an event this week to launch the movie of Magic Beach. Sadly the advertising was a little misleading. 

Join Alison Lester, author of the classic children’s book Magic Beach and director Robert Connolly (Paper Planes, The Dry) for a special meet & greet preview screening of the new movie MAGIC BEACH. You’ll have the chance to say hello with your family and hear them introduce the film.

I expected a Q&A session between Alison Lester and the movie director - Robert Connolly. They did talk very briefly but I had so many questions and I left with these unanswered. The event was billed as a 'meet and greet' and I wrongly assumed this meant some sort of chat or interview. Here are my questions:

• Were the movie animators given a choice of which page from this 32 page picture book they would like to explore?
• Did the director have a list of animators or a list of animation styles he wanted to explore for this book? The movie uses many different forms of animation - such as digital, Claymation, and stop motion.
• Were the beach scenes filmed at the real 'Magic Beach' which is in Victoria?
• Apart from the general popularity of the book, which was written over thirty years ago, why did the director or screen writer select this book?
• What were the decisions that had to be made considering this book is not a really a narrative - it is just a set of connected scenes explored with gentle illustrations and a lyrical text.
• What went into the decision making to alter the order of scenes in the book?
• Did the director have to compromise or make changes to his original plans so the movie could be given the all-important G rating?
• Was Bigsy paid for his performance? 

Movie description: Take a trip with the ones you love through a unique mix of live action, entwined with extraordinary animated adventures that bring you to a dreamy seaside world where anything is possible. Featuring timeless characters, MAGIC BEACH is a captivating blend of reality and fantasy that inspires people of all ages to feel the sand beneath their toes and find wonder in the world around them.

In this radio interview Robert Connolly talks about Magic Beach. And also in this ABC television interview.

Alison Lester said: Magic Beach, published in 1990, features 10 children playing by the ocean and their rich imaginary adventures that have them fighting dragons, riding horses through the waves and spying on smugglers. Like all Lester’s children’s books, it leaves plenty of room for readers and listeners to use their own imaginations, which was the same approach she wanted in the movie adaptation. “I think generally we tend to fill our kids’ lives up with stuff so that they don’t have any time to be bored and imagine,” she says. “And it’s such a precious thing to be able to do that, just to take the time to be outside and letting it happen instead of everything just being fed into you.” Sydney Morning Herald

You can view the official trailer here.

Ten animators bring Alison Lester’s beloved children’s book to the screen, crafting a magical mixture of live action and animation that is destined to become a family favourite.

Animators credits

Susan Kim Danta        animator/director: Mermaid's Tale

Pierce Davison            animator/director: Castle V Castle

Jake Duczynski            animator/director: Gilay Gabinya

Emma Kelly                 animator/director: The Horses

Anthony Lucas             animator/director: The Smugglers

Simon Rippingale        animator/director: Henry's Dream

Kathy Sarpi                 animator/director: Tangerine Boat

Susie Shapones            animator/co-director: Princess Belinda

Marieka Walsh            animator/director: Princess Belinda

Eddie White                 animator/director: Kingdom of Fish

Lee Whitmore              animator/director: Doggy Day Dreaming

Animation by Marieka Walsh

Princess Belinda

Anthony Lucas

The Smugglers

Simon Rippingale

Henry's Dream

I discovered the child who plays the part of the pirate who finds a treasure box in a cave is the grandson of Bert and Patti Newton and he is making his movie debut.

It is wonderful that young children can now enjoy this book in three formats - as a book (even as a board book for very young children); as a stage play (by Finegan Kruckemeyer) and now as a movie. I love also really appreciate that the movie allows children to experience so many different forms of animation. And this might be a first movie which is more of an experience or a series of vignettes than an actual continuous story or narrative. 

It was interesting to see the response when the movie director Robert Connolly asked these three questions:

• Who has read the book? Nearly every hand went up.
• If you are an adult who heard the book as a child? 
• If you are a child, put up your hand if this is your first movie experience. Note this is a longer movie than I expected at 76 minutes. I would say it is perfect for children aged 5+.

It was good to view the movie with a huge audience of young children. I think everyone gasped when the real Bigsy appeared on screen - but he is looking so old now. 

Read a review here

Image Source: Storybox Library

You can see a full list of all the books by Alison Lester here.

30th Anniversary edition