Taking the Long Way Home

The walk home from school is always too long for Zarah. However, when Uncle Jerome picks the children up and suggests that they take the ‘long way home’, the walk is suddenly full of fun and imagination!

Celebrating the power of imagination and the joy of engaging with children and encouraging them to have fun, ‘Taking the Long Way Home’ is a delightful story. Initially, the children- Zarah and her sibling who is not named-are reluctant to engage, but Uncle Jerome’s enthusiasm and willingness to play with them quickly wins them round and they all end up having great fun. As they enjoy skimming stones, watching nature and eating ice creams, there is plenty of time to imagine pterodactyls swooping overhead, escape the snapping jaws of crocodiles as they cross a river and track a yeti to the top of the hill whilst taking the long way home.

By the end of the story, the children are thoroughly enjoying themselves. The illustrations capture their adventure perfectly, showing their excitement and delight as they explore as they open up to trying something different and realise how much fun this can be. It is lovely to see an Uncle being such a positive role model in this way, encouraging imaginative play and outdoor fun!

Taking the Long Way Home

Jake Hope, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald

Scallywag Press ISBN: 978-1915252845

The Dolls’ House

One day, when Mia and her mother are walking back to their new house, she spots a worn, uncared for dolls’ house sitting on the side of the road. Mia falls in love with it and takes it home where she paints it sunshine yellow. The house soon attracts other children who come to play with it all summer long. Just one child watches from across the street, resisting Mia’s friendly gestures. When a storm comes, the dolls’ house is damaged, but help and kindness soon arrive from a surprising quarter.

This joyful story is a wonderful celebration of play, friendship and kindness! Perfect for sharing, the book offers much to enjoy. I love the idea of an old, discarded, shabby toy finding a new lease of life in the hands of a creative, imaginative child and her joy in it spreading to other children, forming bonds of friendship. In such a throwaway world, this idea of valuing and re-inventing toys is an important one to nurture.

Not only does the story explore how important imaginative play is and how creative children can be, it also shows how the shy child who perhaps finds it hard to be part of a group will shine given the right situation. Marley (the child from over the road) shows true kindness and understanding when Mia needs a friend, kindness which she returns by sharing her precious toy.

The illustrations are lovely, full of details to explore and things to spot. The range of dolls which the children bring to join in the fun can be seen in the different pictures, the expressions on their faces changing almost as if they were alive and responding to the events of the story! Children may well enjoy telling the tale from the point of view of their favourite character- or creating stories about the dolls in their new home. The book had me itching to create a dolls’ house from cardboard boxes as we used to do when my son was little and I am sure that I will not be alone in this! Like the children in the story, with lots of creativity and a pinch of imagination, lots of furniture and accessories will be created from whatever can be found, making the venture all the more fun!

A really lovely story!

The Dolls’ House

Tanya Rosie, illustrated by Claudia Ravalli

OUP ISBN: 978-0192783899

Published on the 7th March

My Dad is a Tree

Madeline is pretending to be a tree so Dad decides to join in- just for a minute. As they pretend their arms are branches, their bodies are trunks and their legs are roots, Dad finds a sleepy owl nestling on his shoulder, a robin nesting in his hair, a slug on his shoe…Whatever happens, Madeline is on hand to help and support Dad with the experience. When night comes, Madeline acknowledges that they are not trees, but is delighted that they stayed outside all day- and wonders what they might be tomorrow!

This is such a wonderful book! Dad joins his daughter in her pretending, initially ‘just for a minute’, but in the end committing whole-heartedly to her game. Jon Agee has captured the whimsy and innocence of imaginative play and Dad’s dedication to joining in with his daughter is delightful, the love between them perfectly captured.

There is so much humour captured in the collage-style illustrations as Dad’s expression ‘to camera’ offers the audience a dual narrative to the events. But the story also celebrates all the possibilities when adults slow their pace and invest time and attention in their children’s games, nurturing their imagination and listening to their view of the world. This is sure to become a firm favourite for lingering over and sharing again and again- and who knows what games it might inspire?!

My Dad is a Tree Jon Agee

Scallywag Press ISBN: 978-1915252173