Review:
Allen and
Unwin, 2008. ISBN 9781741753219
(Age 2-6) Highly recommended. An enchanting bedtime story complete with a CD with lovely songs to accompany the text, this is a must for preschoolers or Kindergarten children. Fiddy is a little boy who can't get to sleep, even though his mother sings him a wonderful song, 'Goodnight my little darling, goodnight my little one'. Then Parlo tells him to dream up something wondrous and sing about it in his head. He makes up a song about his rainbow pyjamas, but this doesn't work. Neither does his 'Goodnight Gumboots' song or the advice from the possum, other Australian animals and a bear. Finally Nonno points out the planets and Fiddy drifts away into sleep.
As well as being a wonderful bedtime story, with lustrous watercolour illustrations, the accompanying CD is an excellent addition to the book. Elizabeth Honey reads the story and the beautiful songs, each memorable and lyrical, will be great to use with the text. Having the words for the songs on the endpapers of the book is very handy. Listening to the story and songs will be a delight for children and the book will have multiple uses for a library or classroom. It could be used in music classes and children could also explore animal homes and sleep patterns as well as using their imagination. Teachers' notes are also available.
Pat Pledger
Home
I'm still awake, still! by Elizabeth Honey and Sue Johnson
Allen and
Unwin, 2008. ISBN 9781741753219(Age 2-6) Highly recommended. An enchanting bedtime story complete with a CD with lovely songs to accompany the text, this is a must for preschoolers or Kindergarten children. Fiddy is a little boy who can't get to sleep, even though his mother sings him a wonderful song, 'Goodnight my little darling, goodnight my little one'. Then Parlo tells him to dream up something wondrous and sing about it in his head. He makes up a song about his rainbow pyjamas, but this doesn't work. Neither does his 'Goodnight Gumboots' song or the advice from the possum, other Australian animals and a bear. Finally Nonno points out the planets and Fiddy drifts away into sleep.
As well as being a wonderful bedtime story, with lustrous watercolour illustrations, the accompanying CD is an excellent addition to the book. Elizabeth Honey reads the story and the beautiful songs, each memorable and lyrical, will be great to use with the text. Having the words for the songs on the endpapers of the book is very handy. Listening to the story and songs will be a delight for children and the book will have multiple uses for a library or classroom. It could be used in music classes and children could also explore animal homes and sleep patterns as well as using their imagination. Teachers' notes are also available.
Pat Pledger
Home
© Pledger
Consulting, 2007