Words and pictures ISBN 9781910277652 £11.99
Fern, a little girl who loves her Nanna, is very concerned when she discovers how ‘down’ she has become recently. Mum says it’s as if the joy has gone out of her life. So begins Fern’s mission to try to capture some of the things which engender that lovely ‘whoosh’ of joy and take them to Nanna. Unfortunately, a puppy’s bounce or a baby’s giggle won’t fit in her bag or butterfly net, so Fern herself is very down at the end of her visit to the park, as she feels a failure in her mission. What she learns, however, is that she herself brings her Nanna joy and that the shared experiences they have bring them both immense happiness. This gentle book is beautifully illustrated in watercolour, ink and pencil, often in double-page spreads, creating swathes of glorious colour for the ‘whoosh’ of joy and mute monochrome for downward mood turns. Depictions of Fern are full of expression so that the text, in its appealing font, and the pictures convey meaning in tandem. A great book for helping Reception and Y1 value relationships with grandparents and understand the effects they can have on other people.
Sue Barrett, retired teacher and lecturer