May 2000

THIS MONTH'S FAVE RAVE:
A Child's Treasury of Nursery Rhymes, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton.
This is a real treat of a book that will appeal to children from birth up. As well as familiar rhymes there's also room for song lyrics, traditional French verse, a rhyme from the Caribbean and lots of other traditional aural material.

Its 96 illustrated pages are split into four sections: Baby, Toddler, School-time and Older, where each section focuses on things appropriate for that stage in a child's life. So, for example, the baby section concentrates on bouncing rhymes to cheer up and soothe, as well as sleep-inducing verse. The toddler section is action-packed, and all about eating, playing, walking and marching (it includes the Grand Old Duke). Your child will be mastering the limericks and tongue-twisters at the end of the book before you know it.

"It's expensive, but why not mention it to grandparents," says a dad of a two-year-old, "I wish I had!"

Published by Kingfisher, £14.99.

HONOURABLE MENTION
Slow Dog's Nose, by Allan Ahlberg, illustrations by Andre Amstutz
If you're looking for a proper story for quiet time or quality time, this amusing tale should really appeal. The text uses repetition in a way that isn't repetitive (if you know what I mean), and introduces opposites, senses, and lots of action along the way. The story begins: "Slow Dog is asleep. His eyes are asleep. His ears are asleep. His mouth and paws and tail are asleep. But his nose is awake." It's just one in a series of books about two characters, Fast Fox and Slow Dog.

Published by Viking Puffin, £4.99.