View source for Light-Fingered Larry by Jan Fearnley

{{infobox2
|title=Light-Fingered Larry
|author=Jan Fearnley
|reviewer=Rachael Spencer
|genre=For Sharing
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9781405265386
|pages=32
|publisher=Egmont
|date=June 2014
|aznuk=1405265388
|aznus=1405265388
|cover=1405265388 
|website=
|video=
|summary=Larry is an octopus who likes to use his tentacles for mischief, pinching anything he can find. Nickity-nickity-nick-nick-gone! What will the residents of Bottlenose Bay do to put him to a stop? A charming story to share with younger readers, who will no doubt want you to collect the rest of the series too.
}}
Larry the Octopus has eight tentacles, and each and every one is used to half inch other people's stuff. As he travels through Bottlenose Bay, he fills his net with more and more loot until everyone has just had enough. Officer Pavani comes to the rescue, but will Larry manage to escape?

I think the layout of this book is excellent, combining bright and colourful pictures with a lovely idea for a story to create a very readable book. The inclusion of a fold out map of Bottlenose Bay is a really nice touch, and makes children feel part of the whole world, not just this particular story, lending itself to being part of a child's collection on a book shelf. This is something which is evident within the book itself; I could definitely tell there were lots of characters within the world that I would meet in greater detail in other titles in the series. 

My son really enjoys the pictures, and thinks the character of Larry himself is wonderful – sea creatures often being a popular inclusion in picture books. The repetition of the phrase 'nickity-nickity-nick-nick-GONE!' works excellently to keep younger children involved, giving a chance for them to join in when reading and make it all the more entertaining to read together.

Though there is nothing particularly ground breaking about the book, it doesn't push any boundaries or blow me away, it is still a very nice title to read with your child, with a host of characters which I am sure my son is very much looking forward to meeting again! I'd definitely recommend borrowing it, but I think the layout and map make it a nice treat to buy for your children as well. 

If you enjoyed this author, you could read [[Arthur and the Meanies by Jan Fearnley|Arthur and the Meanies]] or if sea creatures are what you're looking for, how about [[The Shark In The Dark by Peter Bently and Ben Cort]]?

{{amazontext|amazon=1405265388}}
{{amazonUStext|amazon=1405265388}}

{{commenthead}}