The tall man and the twelve babies by Tom Niland and Kilmeny Niland
Ill. by Deborah Niland. Allen and Unwin, 2010. ISBN 9781742371153.
(Age 2-6) Recommended. A zany picture book that will get children
asking questions, The tall man and the twelve babies tells the
story of
six baby boys all called Alistair, and six baby girls all called
Charlene. They all live with a very tall man in a tiny apartment in a
big city. When they are happy they laugh at the same time and when they
are angry they all yell at the same time. One day when the tall man
stepped outside with the Charlenes the door slams shut. How will he get
back to the Alistairs?
This is a hilarious tale of being a parent, but in this case, the tall
man is the sole carer for the twelve babies and what antics they get up
to. It is told in simple prose and short sentences with the use of bold
print, large letters and capitals to emphasise words.
Beautifully illustrated by Deborah Niland, the little round faces of
the twelve babies are a joy to look at. The drawings of the tall man,
with his long skinny legs and expressive face, wonderful multicoloured
curls, spotted scarf and striped shirt give him a very distinct
character. The humour of the story really comes to life with the
drawings of the tall man when he tries to get back into the apartment
through a tiny flap. Looking at the Charlenes pulling on his legs and
the Alistairs pulling the other way made me laugh out loud.
The delightful illustrations and the unique story make this a very
memorable book to read aloud and talk about.
Pat Pledger