Hello, Emma Memma by Emma Memma

Emma Wiggle makes a slow and graceful transformation into Emma Memma in this first Emma Memma book. Opening with an invitation to look closely at the 'gum blossom tree and pink painted leaves', beautiful watercolour illustrations by artist Kerrie Hess reveal little yellow and pink butterflies. As the book gently progresses the short rhyming text alerts us that 'someone is almost in sight. A friend, a buddy, a pal to play games. She is ready to join in, Emma Memma is her name'. The tree is growing and a cocoon emerges. Could it be hiding someone inside? The first signs of Emma Memma to emerge are bundles of twirly orange hair, followed by her body bursting out of the cocoon, 'pink shirt, orange dress. With pink and orange shoes. Emma Memma is ready for adventures with you!'. 

While the text is short and approachable for young ones, it is language rich, with words like 'developing', 'protective' and 'emerging' as well as lots of simple descriptive words (bright, sway, swing, curly wurly). According to the website, Emma's new persona 'focuses on a new generation of communication, where she and her friends navigate challenges and adventure using sign language, choreographed dance narratives, gesture, mime, singing, speaking, listening, making craft and drawing'. This introductory book will delight former Emma Wiggle and now Emma Memma fans.

Themes: Butterflies, Nicknames, Metamorphosis.

Nicole Nelson