Tales from Thimble Hall: Mrs Stopper's Bottle by Malcolm Fawbert
| Tales from Thimble Hall: Mrs Stopper's Bottle by Malcolm Fawbert | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: A delightful story about how a bottle which didn't even make it into the recycling bin became something. Wonderful illustrations. Malcolm Fawbert was kind enough to talk to us. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 26 | Date: January 2010 |
| Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing | |
| ISBN: 978-1608603442 | |
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One night Evie and Jacob, who lived at Thimble Hall, asked their mother for a story about a bottle and strangely enough, she knew a rather good one which was about a small shop not far from where they lived.
The bottle shop sold all sorts of things, such as sweets, marbles, shells and buttons – but everything had to fit into a bottle. Mrs Stopper, who owned the shop was a proud lady and for some time she'd been looking for something very special to go in the middle of her mantelpiece. The bottles in the shop wanted to find out too, but some were destined to be disappointed as they were thrown out for recycling when a new delivery arrived. They wondered about what they might become next – all except for one bottle, which rolled away, down the hill and into the sea…
Well, I'm not going to tell you what happened to the bottle – you'll have to read the book to find out - but Mrs Stopped did get that something very special for her mantelpiece. On the way Evie and Jacob heard a delightful story with subtle messages about recycling and the fact that nothing and no one is ever of no use – even an unwanted bottle. We all have potential, which is something which children in today's pressured age need to know. There is always room for something and someone different.
The story is good, but it's the pictures which really add to the story and make it shine. On the face of it they look bold and simple, but as you look you'll find yourself drawn into the picture. Small details make themselves known each time you look: I'd read the book several times before I noticed the steaming cup of tea on the settle, or the couple walking hand-in-hand to the inn. There's a lot to talk about, it all makes the story more real and it's a book that children will return to time and time again.
Mrs Stopper's Bottle is the first in a planned series of books by Malcolm Fawbert and here at Bookbag we're looking forward to hearing what happens next. I'd like to thank the author for sending a copy to Bookbag.
Children who enjoy Mrs Stopper's Bottle will also enjoy Dinosaurs (Henry's House) by Philip Ardagh and Mike Gordon.
Malcolm Fawbert and Asa Jones was kind enough to be interviewed by Bookbag.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Tales from Thimble Hall: Mrs Stopper's Bottle by Malcolm Fawbert 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 Tales from Thimble Hall: Mrs Stopper's Bottle by Malcolm Fawbert at Amazon.com.
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