I am hungry by Michael Rosen. Illus. by Robert Starling

A note to adults appears on the publication page, hunting at the topsy turvey things which may be inside. A suggestion that dreaming about being hungry does not always mean dreaming about food will set minds racing with possibilities. In rhyming pairs of lines, the squirrel tells us what he eats when hungry. A bread roll, pop corn in a bowl, slices of cheese and a hundred peas. Just when the reader is becoming accustomed to predicting a rhyming phrase that is about food, the story changes and some fried fish is rhymed with a birthday wish. Children will be intrigued as a birthday wish is always associated with cake, and the illustrations support this. And after the birthday cake, he gets a tummy ache. From then on the dreams are about an array of things which will delight the audience, amusing them with subtle humour. Vanilla ice cream and a very sad dream, a nasty fright and a dark and stormy night will encourage readers to talk about their dreams, and ponder about why we have dreams.

The funny ending will draw laughter from the audience, as will the wonderful page filled illustrations of one hungry squirrel. 

Themes: Hunger, Squirrel, Needs and wants.

Fran Knight