Too Pickly! by Jean Reidy and Genevieve Leloup

Too Pickly! by Jean Reidy and Genevieve Leloup
Buy Too Pickly! by Jean Reidy and Genevieve Leloup at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: For Sharing
Reviewer: Keith Dudhnath
Summary: The follow-up to Too Purply! looks at food rather than clothes. Just like the original, it's deceptively simple, but thoroughly wonderful. Warmly recommended.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 32	Date: July 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1408807118
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It's Too Purply! with food. That about sums it up, but for those of you who haven't already fallen in love with Jean Reidy's tale of getting dressed, Too Pickly! looks at a little boy (and his hamster) deciding what to eat. Dish by dish, he rejects them for being too pickly, too wrinkly, too burpy, too stringy, and so on, until he finds the one that's just right.

It's a deceptively simple picture book, but I love it. The repetition and pared down plot will strike a chord with the very youngest book fans. The intriguing adjectives keep the interest alive for slightly older readers - perhaps even those in the earliest stages of learning to read for themselves. The humour and charm in Genevieve Leloup's jolly, vibrant and upbeat illustrations make it a real joy for all ages, including the adults reading the stories.

It is just the same as Too Purply!, but as with My Animals and My Circus by Xavier Deneux, the quality is so high that I really don't mind. We can go ahead and knock half a mark off for lack of originality, if you really care. I'll then insist that we stick half a mark back on for a clever touch at the end. In Too Purply!, the heroine is seen in her perfect dress. Here, rather than offering a suggestion for a perfect meal, the plate is empty, save a few nondescript crumbs and smears of sauce. It acknowledges that kids can be faddy with their food - or perhaps, more accurately, parents can be. Third person the story may be, but it's nice to not turn off any kids or parents unnecessarily. There's space provided to write your child's favourite foods at the end if you so desire.

Everything that Too Pickly! does, it does perfectly. It's great fun and warmly recommended.

For more food-based fun, What's in the Fridge? by Gaby Goldsack and Jo Moon is thoroughly enjoyable. Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray is gorgeous, and not just for those learning their letters. Bedtime (Slip-and-Slide Books) by Maureen Roffey has a sister book called Mealtime which is well-worth a look.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Too Pickly! by Jean Reidy and Genevieve Leloup at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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