Clumpety Bump by Phil Allcock and Richard Watson

Clumpety Bump by Phil Allcock and Richard Watson
Buy Clumpety Bump by Phil Allcock and Richard Watson at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: For Sharing
Reviewer: Linda Lawlor
Summary: A cheerful, colourful tale of a lazy horse and his longsuffering owner.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 32	Date: August 2017
Publisher: Maverick Arts Publishing
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 9781848862456
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Clumpety Bump likes apples. Nothing wrong with that, after all: they're tasty and full of goodness. But you don't get delicious, juicy treats like that unless you deserve them, and naughty Clumpety is a bit too keen on saying I can't be bothered when his friend Wally asks for help. So, after several disasters, Wally decides he'd be better off leaving Clumpety at home and using his tractor instead. Unfortunately, things don't turn out too well, and our two heroes learn that if you want to be properly happy, other people need to be happy too. Selfishness just makes everyone sad.

It's a simple lesson, but a good one, and can be most helpful in provoking discussion if a toddler encounters problems within in the family or with friends. Unusually, we get to see both sides of the dilemma, so whether it's your little one causing the crisis, or a sibling or classmate, the story will help them understand and work through it. But despite its weighty message this is by no means a dull, serious book: after all, who could resist a character called Wally Wobblebottom? And the other names in the book are equally funny, including a chap called Tom Hartoe (geddit?). Also, once children have got over the splutters at Wally's name, if they ever do, there are lots of repeated phrases and nonsense words to join in with.

The illustrations seem simple and uncluttered at first glance, but attentive little ones will soon spot cheery mice, birds and even a brightly coloured snake watching the action. And there's a lovely double-page spread tracing the two friends' journey which recalls all the thrills and spills they had on earlier days.

Stories about animals can be lots of fun, as children can identify with them and also discover something about their characteristics. Meet the endearing Penguin Blue, with his love of the sea, in Sunk! by Rob Biddulph, and find out what's different about an owl's bedtime in 10, 9, 8... Owls Up Late! by Georgiana Deutsch and Ekaterina Trukhan. Discover why some creatures might not be ideal pets in Have You Seen My Giraffe? by Michelle Robinson and Claire Powell, and explore just what it is pandas do all day in Chengdu Can Do by Barney Saltzberg. Richard Watson also illustrated Mad in the Back by Michael Rosen. Plenty of enjoyment and lots to talk about here!

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You can read more book reviews or buy Clumpety Bump by Phil Allcock and Richard Watson at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Clumpety Bump by Phil Allcock and Richard Watson at Amazon.com.

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