I've been slowly getting my garden ready for the first planting (cooler weather veggies), so today's read slides right in with my mood. It also is a lovely way to ring in the first thoughts of Easter, since we are in the Lent period.
This read is all about carrots and a rabbit. Or rather, one carrot and a rabbit. I enjoy the playfully, adventurous tone on the cover, which I'm hoping will carry over into the story. The blurb has me thinking that this one will lean toward forming friendships and opening up to new ideas. This better include quite a bit of silliness because that will be more likely to win me over.
But let's just take a peek at this one and see how it goes!
OH, CARROTS!
by Mariajo Ilustrajo
Frances Lincoln Children Books
Picture Book
40 pages
ages 8 to 12
COMING...
APRIL 1st!!!
From the award-winning creator of I Love Books comes a humorous and heartfelt tale about the value of kindness and the magic of making new friends. Oh, Carrots! is the perfect choice for young children as they begin to navigate their first friendships.
Mr Rabbit lives alone, and do you know what? He likes it! He enjoys peaceful moments spent reading, drinking cups of tea, and gardening - but sometimes it can get a little too quiet . . .
Luckily, Spring has arrived, and that means Mr Rabbit can plant his favourite vegetable – carrots!
With some love, sunshine, and a little bit of singing, the carrots begin to grow. But one day, Mr Rabbit spots something unusual - a wiggling carrot top! He pulls and pulls, and out pops a walking, talking carrot.
Carrot only wants to be Mr Rabbit’s friend, but Mr Rabbit just wants to be left alone! From leaving soil all over the sofa to rummaging through Mr Rabbit’s books, Carrot’s mischievous antics leave the solitary rabbit feeling a bit irritated.
Yet, as the day unfolds, Mr Rabbit finds himself starting to enjoy the company. He’s so used to being all alone that he’s never even considered having a friend. Maybe now is the perfect time for that to change.
MY TIDBITS
Unexpected chaos brings giggles, groans, and tons of sympathy in a cute tale, which is fitting for the must-be-read-again shelves.
Mr. Rabbit lives alone and is very fine with that. There's no boredom in his life thanks to his love for tea, reading, and gardening. Well, it does get a little quiet sometimes but still... When carrot season hits and he plants his seeds, it's only a matter of time before his world is bright again. Until he spots one carrot growing much faster than the others, that is. After tons of pulling and grunting, he's able to pull the huge carrot out, and it's not what he expected. Mr. Rabbit's world is about to be turned upside-down.
This is a smooth running tale, which holds a little adventure, silliness, and a warming message right before jabbing with another last smile at the end. Mr. Rabbit comes out of his shell little by little, and it's fun to see this growth. All along, the carrot offers chaos, which isn't ill-founded but springs from naivety...the kind that makes one cringe and say 'oh no' before giggling and sighing and knowing it's not over yet. This makes it a great read-aloud for groups, especially since it reels things back in as the tale closes up to calm things back down. It's cute and funny from beginning to end.
The text flows very well and melds nicely with the lovely illustrations. These are done in watercolor and bring the scenes across with vividness, while still tucking in spots of humor here and there.
This is one of those books, which will be requested to be read repeatedly, and leaves off with all sorts of good vibes.
And here she is...
Mariajo Ilustrajo is an award-winning Spanish illustrator based in the UK. She completed her MA in Children's Illustration from the prestigious Cambridge School of Art, before going on to be crowned the overall winner of the World Illustration Awards. Her debut picture book, Flooded, has been translated into 20 languages and won the Klaus Flugge Prize for Illustration.
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