What's the time, Mr Wolf? by Debi Gliori
Bloomsbury Books, 2012. ISBN 978 1 4088 1940 1
(Ages: 4+) Recommended. Picture book. Nursery rhymes. The well known
refrain, What's the time, Mr Wolf? is on most pages in this
engaging
and colourful picture book, extolling many well known nursery
rhymes,
inviting readers to join in and then recognsie the characters and
the
rhymes that they know. Much fun will be had either in the classroom
or
at home, as children, teachers and parents try to find the many
references given.
From being woken at 7 am by four and twenty blackbirds, asking the
time, then hearing his neighbours in their straw, wood and stone
houses
slamming their doors on the way to work, or Red Riding Hood knocking
on
his door with the morning post, Mr Wolf is besieged by people asking
the time or simply interrupting his day. Lots of references to time
and
the passing of time continue throughout the fun filled book until
the
last page when we find what Mr Wolf has been rushing to do.
The references to nursery rhymes in the text are paralleled in the
illustrations encouraging children to find as many characters and
situations that they know about. I can imagine many children will
have
a great time with this large picture book, full of detailed and
colourful illustrations. This will be a book to share, and read over
again, finding something new each time it is read.
Fran Knight