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The Book Pages by Carey Fluker Hunt
Four new picturebooks for KS1 exploring friendship Learning how to be a good friend can bring challenges. These picturebooks will help children recognize and value good communication, empathy and many other things that help us make (and keep) our friends.
The Visitor by Antje Damm A story about bravery and small beginnings (Gecko Press, 2018) Black-and-white photos of 3D models depicting a domestic interior are used to tell the story of Elise, a lonely woman who is too scared to leave her house. One day a paper aeroplane flies in through an open window. Elise burns it, but that night more aeroplanes appear. The next morning a boy called Emil knocks at the door. He wants his plane back. He also wants to use the bathroom, have a chat, listen to a story, play some games and eat a slice of buttered bread… Colour seeps into the black-and-white artwork as the story progresses, visually dispelling Elise’s loneliness and evoking the power of human connection. Spending cross-generational time with Elise and Emil is a joyful experience, and one that’s well worth sharing.
Can Cat and Bird be Friends? by Coll Muir A story about valuing differences and the power of good communication (HarperCollins, 2019) When Cat meets Bird they can’t be friends, because cats eat birds. That’s how it is. But Bird won’t take no for an answer. He knows all sorts of places that appeal to cats and is keen to share them. And Cat, in turn, is full of ideas that appeal to birds. The trouble is that cats don’t like eating worms and birds don’t like playing in boxes, and the pair struggle to find common ground until Bird gives up and heads for home. “I’ve got a painting to finish,” he announces, in a twist that frames a satisfying ending for all concerned. “PAINTING?! I love painting!” says Cat. “We can be friends….” Muir brings a warm and quirky eye to this tale of unexpected friendship. Rather than making assumptions or following the herd, Cat and Bird take time to ask the right questions and listen carefully to the answers. Muir’s deadpan text isn’t just funny, it respects young readers and encourages them to have a go. Accompanied by expressive two-tone illustrations that play with comic tropes, this beautifully-designed book will have a wide appeal.
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