Keira Knightley takes on Kid's Fiction: BEAR'S NAP by Emily Gravett, I LOVE YOU JUST THE SAME by Keira Knightley, THE LONE HUSKY by Hannah Gold
By SALLY MORRIS
Published: | Updated:
Bear's Nap is available now from the Mail Bookshop
As autumn nights draw in, it’s the perfect excuse to snuggle up with this warming new book by Emily Gravett.
Bear is trying to sleep but he can hear an irritating ‘cheep-cheep’ noise. Who is it?
Increasingly grumpy, he stomps around the forest listening to snakes hiss, owls hoot, foxes yip and frogs croak but can’t find the culprit.
And when, finally, he does, there’s a surprising twist and a wonderfully witty final page. The vibrant illustrations are rich in detail and funny expressions, and small children will love the repetition and joining in with all the animal noises (no drifting off to sleep here, be warned!). Another absolute triumph from this award-winning author.
Age 3+
I Love You Just the Same is available now from the Mail Bookshop
Sometimes books by ‘celebrities’ feel dashed off but this long-form picture book, both written and illustrated by the actress, has an emotionally authentic, dream-like quality that is perfect for reading aloud.
A little girl’s mummy used to say ‘I love you best in all the world’ – until the new baby arrived and now she says, ‘I love you just the same.’ The girl wishes her sister would go away but when her wish comes true, she discovers bravery in the quest to bring her home.
The familiar anxiety at the birth of a sibling is sensitively evoked and the wildly imaginative illustrations will draw children into the journey that loops back to a joyful, reassuring ending.
4+
The Lone Husky is available now from the Mail Bookshop
Hannah Gold revisits the atmospheric Arctic wilderness, home to brave April and a huge polar bear, in this gripping adventure about a dangerous, long-distance sled race that the young girl enters with her troubled young husky, Blaze. Packed with detail about ‘mushers’ (sled drivers), and the extraordinary connection with their dogs, Gold evokes the icy cold, bitter winds and brutal terrain as April races against Finn, a boy trained to win at all costs.
And when she’s in trouble, whose powerful shape appears out of nowhere . .?
The book works as a stand-alone as well as a sequel, and Levi Pinfold’s stunning illustrations will make you shiver. A thrill ride from start to finish.
8+
Daily Mail
