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Mischievous, witty and playful, Nibbles: The Book Monster by Emma Yarlett (@EmmaYarlett_) is one of the most enjoyable picture books to read aloud I’ve come across in a long time. Indeed, it’s the sort of book that makes you want to go in for kidnapping small children if you don’t have any to hand.
Nibbles is a rather cute looking yellow ball full of energy with wide open eyes and a big smile. But don’t be deceived. He’s actually a monster. And a monster with a voracious appetite at that. He’ll eat anything and everything, but most of all he loves to gobble his way through books.
With each turn of the page we try desperately to catch up with Nibbles as he munches his way through fairy stories, surprising the characters inside along the way, and causing us readers to giggle and squeal with glee at the chaos he leaves behind him. Can we readers save the day and stop all this destruction? Will we be quick enough to capture Nibbles before he swallows all our favourite stories?
A reader’s delight, the energy and naughtiness of Nibbles will also capture the imagination of those who haven’t yet experienced how books can quicken one’s pulse and give so much enjoyment. Pacey and funny, drawing the reader and listener in to become active themselves within the confines of the story Nibbles: The Book Monster is a triumph.
Yarlett’s illustrations are rich, tactile and full of clever details. Fans of David Roberts will especially appreciate Yarlett’s style and patterning, whilst her gorgeous hand-drawn lettering might make you think of Oliver Jeffers’ work. The book as a physical object is gorgeous; full of flaps (surely a loving nod to the classic Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell) and cut-outs to explore, with fine attention paid to every detail from the textured cover to the barcode on the back (it’s definitely one to add to this fun post from 100 Scope Notes about the art of the picture book barcode).
Those who love reading and who happily devour books are often portrayed as “bookish”, quiet or shy but here is a bookworm a book monster full of verve and gumption – a whirlwind of activity showing that having a passion for books can be great fun. A brilliant book to savour, guaranteed to get listeners asking for seconds.
Unsurprisingly, we simply had to create some books we could lick our lips over alongside reading Nibbles: The Book Monster and I wanted to come up with something very simple, that even the kids could manage. We bought some ready-made puff pastry and the girls cut it into equal sized rectangles, placing one on top of the other, before pressing them down together in the middle (we used a skewer for this).
Once cooked (we just followed the instruction on the pastry packet), these rectangles puffed up to look like the pages of an open book. As soon as we took them out of the oven, we pressed down again in the middle, to help create that effect of open pages.
A dusting of icing sugar, a dollop of fresh cream, some strawberries and a special message from Nibbles written with coulis completed our booky treat.
As you’ll see, Nibbles tried to eat our edible books. Once sated Nibbles went to explore our bookshelves:
Can you spot Nibbles? (you can click on the shelves for a larger image to make hunting Nibbles easier).
Once you find Nibbles, do tweet the answer (the title of the book that Nibbles is diving into) using the hashtag #FindNibbles. All correct answers will go into a draw run by the publisher (@littletigeruk) and one person will be chosen to go forward into a prize draw at the end of the week to win their own copy of Nibbles – both toy and book! (If you don’t already follow me on Twitter, I’d love to see you over there – I’m @playbythebook.)
Whilst baking and sharing our edible books with Nibbles we listened to:
Setting up a treasure hunt amongst your books at home, or in the library (inspired by looking for Nibbles amongst his books). Ask the kids to find, say, three books on three different themes – in my house I might ask my girls to find me a dragon book, a ghost story, and a book that would help me find my way amongst the stars. Whatever you choose, it’s a way to get your kids looking through their shelves, perhaps re-acquainting themselves with long lost favourites. Once they’ve found their books, get the kids to set you a book treasure hunt!
Surprising yourselves by reading a new fairy story or folk tale. Choose a new anthology at the library and pick a title of a story you don’t know. What discoveries could await you? Perhaps you could all enjoy illustrating a scene from the story you discover.
Title: Orion and the Dark Written and illustrated by: Emma Yarlett Published by: Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press, 2014 Themes/Topics: fear of the dark, fears, the dark Suitable for ages: 4-7 Hardcover, 40 pages Opening: My name is Orion, … Continue reading →
I promised you more Europeans so here is another fellow-Brit, Emma Yarlett. I think when you see ORION AND THE DARK, you will realize why I shot off an email immediately to Emma to see if she would be up … Continue reading →
Welcome to day 7. For this last day of Children’s Book Week 2014, Kid Lit Reviews presents Capstone, a dynamic publisher well-known for their children’s books. Yesterday, Chronicle Books sponsored Lately Lily: The Adventures of a Travelling Girl. There is still time to win Lately Lily, or any of the other prizes showcased this week.. Today, Capstone presents Bear’s Big Bottom by Steve Smallman & Emma Yarlett. To WINthis hilarious new picture book LEAVE A COMMENT! Then, CLICK HERE for EXTRA ENTRIES! And as an extra bonus, Capstone is offering Lost Little Penguin to three winners! Kidlit is such a generous genre.
“Bear was friendly / Bear was sweet / The nicest bear you’d ever meet! / With little paws and little feet / And a very BIG bear bottom!
Poor Bear! His bottom is causing chaos…Bump! Crash! Splat! Soon Bear is in great big trouble! Can he ever make it up to his friends? A hilarious story of bottoms, bears, and animal friends that will have children giggling at Bear’s bottom-based mishaps. From children’s favourite Steve Smallman, author of Smelly Peter, the Great Pea Eater and The Monkey with A Bright Blue Bottom.”
The Story
Bear was your average bear. He was big and his friends could find him most anywhere. The only thing unusual about Bear was the size of his bottom. Bear’s bottom was so BIG . . . he completely filed the couch, squishing his friends. Bear’s bottom was so BIG . . . he jumped into the pool and the water all flew out. Then one day, Bear’s bottom was so BIG . . . it smashed a birthday cake and ruined the day. Bear felt so sad he ran away. Bear wouldn’t ruin anything else. Bear’s friends tried to find him, but all they found was a very hungry fox. If they didn’t find Bear soon, the fox would eat all of their bottoms.
Review
I like Bear’s Big Bottom. Bear is a nice bear and has some nice friends who are tolerant of his big bottom, until his big bottom breaks the camel’s birthday cake. It was actually squirrel’s cake, but the point is, they couldn’t take Bear’s big bottom anymore and told his just that. Not exactly nice of Bear’s friends to say what they said, but sometimes patience runs thin. Any kid who is different, for any reason, understands Bear’s plight. Good friends will tolerate your differences, but even good friends have a breaking point, not usually all at the same time, which is what helps keep a group of friends together.
I like that the group conscious got the better of Bear’s friends and they went looking for him. Conflict must ensue in a good story and so enters the fox, ready to eat their bottoms. The group of friends need Bear’s help. Do you think bear went to help? Bear is a good friend. Good friends stick up for each other, especially if picked on by someone outside of their group.
Originally published in Great Britain by Little Tiger Press (2013), Bear’s Big Bottom came to America and Capstone written in English. I was surprised to learn that an entire verse was changed. In the U.S. the verse reads:
In fact, Bear’s bottom was so wide
it filled the couch from side to side!
“We’re getting squished!” Bear’s friends all cried.
“Because of Bear’s big bottom!”
The original verse, as written by Steve Smallman, the author, reads:
“But when they tried to watch TV
Bear’s bottom filled the whole settee
And no one could sit comfortably
Because of Bear’s big bottom!”
I’m guessing the problem word is “settee,” meaning a sofa. It’s too bad those who made this decision where shortsighted in thinking no one would understand a settee is a sofa, upon which one sets their bottom. What happened to looking up unknown words, expanding one’s vocabulary, using a dictionary? Do kids no longer do any of those things? Beside the change for settee’s sake, the verse went from an original rhyme scheme (TV, settee, comfortably), to an easy scheme (wide, side, cried). Personally, I much prefer the original verse. The words are punchy (“pop-pop-pop-pop!”), like all the other verses.
Bear’s Big Bottom is a terrific book for anyone who is different or has a “different” friend. Some differences, like a big bottom, should not make friends go away. Everyone is different in some way; just not all are as obvious, or as intrusive, as Bear’s BIG bottom. Most people like being around others like themselves, not someone who is different. The animals show that being with someone different may, one day, save your bottom. This hilarious, brightly illustrations show wide-eyed animals often in spreads running full width. The cockeyed ending will tickle funny bones. Your little one may want you to reread Bear’s Big Bottom from the top. Let the author help. His reading of Bear’s Big Bottom is hilariously entertaining, but then, these are his characters.
This is it. The LAST DAY you can ENTER TO WINBear’s Big Bottom or any of the other prizes seen this week, by LEAVING A COMMENT. In addition to all the those prizes, Capstone is also giving away Lost Little Penguinby Tracey Corderoy –
“When Plip the penguin loses his favorite toy, it seems like the end of the world! As the sky grows dark, Plip runs off to find it, all on his own. What will become of poor little Plip, out in the snowy storm?”
So let’s recap one final time. Here is what YOU CAN WIN! — How to Enter? LEAVE A COMMENTand then CLICK HERE for EXTRA ENTRIES!
A 3-month subscription to Farfaria – online library of children’s books.
The Monster Needs His Sleep – from Scarletta Kids, by Paul Czajak, illustrated by Wendy Grieb
Josh and the Gumshoe News Crew: The Super-Secret – from Melissa Productions, by Melissa Perry Moraja
Lately Lily, the Adventures of a Traveling Girl – from Chronicle Books, by Micah Player
Bear’s Big Bottom – from Capstone Books, by Steve Smallman, illustrated by Emma Yarlett
The Shark Whisperer – from Scarletta Junior Readers, by Dr. Ellen Prager, illustrations by Antonio Javier Caparo
AND, .
.
Lost Little Penguin – from Capstone Books, by Tracey Corderoy.
. WINBear’s Big Bottom by LEAVING A COMMENT below this review. For additional entries, and MORE CHANCES TO WINLost Little Penguin, and other wonderful children’s books, CLICK HERE TO WIN! .
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