A bit of company by Margaret Wild and Wayne Harris

Walker Books, 2009. ISBN 9781921529054.
Picture book A reprint of a favourite picture book is always welcome. Christopher is lonely. His mother's time is taken up well and truly by the arrival of the triplets. Next door Molly is lonely, so lonely that one Monday morning she screams.  Her screams brings Christopher to the fence and seeing her in a similar plight to his own, they become friends. Whenever they need a bit of company, one or the other of them screams across the fence and the other will come running.  Eventually the families across the fence become friends, and Molly and Christopher broaden their friendship group to include Mum and the triplets. One day the triplets scream, and they all come running. The illustrations to this lovely tale of friendship enrich the story. Rounded figures dominate the pages as Christopher and Molly run to each other's aid. The triplets too are huge and in the reader's face, with their cloth nappies, safety pins and caps. A wonderfully warm story to entrance the younger reader.
Fran Knight