Two by Two and a Half by David Melling
| Two by Two and a Half by David Melling | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: Beautifully illustrated and with a lively story this book might need a little explanation from an adult before the story is clear. It is however recommended. | |
| Buy? Maybe | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: April 2008 |
| Publisher: Hodder Children's Books | |
| ISBN: 978-0340903117 | |
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Miss Moo Hoo is taking her class out for a walk in the woods. They have to choose a partner, put on coats, scarves and backpacks and follow Miss Moo Hoo. There's only one problem – there are five pupils, so one is left alone at the back. Little Bat Jack puts on a brave face and says that he doesn't mind.
Follow the leader, follow the path,
Two by two and a half sang Miss Moo Hoo and off they went with Duck, Wolf, Rabbit and Lamb holding on to the teacher's tail and Little Bat Jack trailing along behind. It was Rabbit who heard the first noise – a rustling coming from the branches of the big oak tree. Miss Boo Hoo thought that it was a rumbling tummy or could it be a lion – a lion as big as the tree itself? But no – it was Little Bat Jack and he didn't count.
Each of the animals hears a strange noise and in their imagination it turns into something quite fearsome, but turns out to be Little Bat Jack, who, of course, doesn't count. Little Bat Jack, meanwhile, is trudging along behind the others, leaves, mud and twigs sticking to him as the tiny thing struggles to keep up with the others. Trees turn into dragons and stones into ragamuffins – and then back into Little Bat Jack – who doesn't count.
Just as everyone is feeling quite confident a real threat emerges. This time it's the biggest, fiercest bear that you've ever seen and the little band is terrified. Suddenly the massive, slavering bear is stopped in his tracks as he sees something that terrifies him and Little Bat Jack is no longer the one who doesn't count. He's the hero of the day and after they've eaten their sandwiches they all go home:
Follow the leader, follow the path,
Two by two and Little Bat Jack!
You can always rely on David Melling for an exciting story and some wonderful illustrations – this book is no exception, but it doesn't work quite as well as my personal favourite – The Scallywags. I had to read the book through a couple of times before I realised that the lion, the dragon and the ragamuffins were imaginary threats whilst the bear was real. The illustrations of the dragon and the lion dominate the pages and it wasn't until we met the ragamuffins that I realised quite the extent to which Little Bat Jack had collected leaves and twigs about himself and unintentionally made himself look quite fearsome. These are relatively minor points though as a gentle steer from the reader will make the story clear to a child.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
For another book about fears we can recommend Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears by Emily Gravett and for another book about looking beyond what's on the surface we enjoyed Weslandia by Paul Fleischman.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Two by Two and a Half by David Melling 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 Two by Two and a Half by David Melling at Amazon.com.
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