Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. Mem Fox. Illustrated by Julie Vivas. 1984/1985. Kane/Miller. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

 First sentence: There was once a small boy called Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge and what's more he wasn't very old either. His house was next door to an old people's home and he knew all the people who lived there.

Premise/plot: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge has many friends; but his most special friend has four names just like him: Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. When he hears that she is losing her memory--or has "lost" her memory, Wilfrid sets out in search of it. But first, he has to know exactly what a memory is. So, being young and curious, he asks. Equipped with descriptions of exactly what memory is, he sets out on a quest. Will the items he collects be just what Miss Nancy needs?

My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I loved the descriptions of memories:

• "Something warm, my child, something warm."
• "Something from long ago, me lad, something from long ago."
• "Something that makes you cry, my boy, something that makes you cry."
• "Something that makes you laugh, my darling, something that makes you laugh."
• "Something as precious as gold, young man, something as precious as gold."

I love the celebration of friendship as well. This picture book is just a gem.


© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Yellow Umbrella

Yellow Umbrella. Jae-Soo Liu. Music composed by Dong II Sheen. 2002. Kane/Miller. 36 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Yellow Umbrella is a wordless picture book by Jae-Soo Liu that was first published in Korea. One umbrella becomes many, many umbrellas on a rainy day.

The message of the book, according to the author, is "whether they were boys or girls, fat or skinny, short or tall...under their colorful umbrellas, all those physical differences disappeared...It seemed to me that these children were claiming that they were all equal in spite of their physical differences." Readers can find their own meanings in this wordless book, however.

For me, when I "read" this one, what I get is a sense of JOY. The book seems to capture the love of life, the love of play.

The book includes a CD filled with music. The first track is seven minutes, and this is the intended soundtrack for the book. Track two, "Underneath the Sky," is the only music piece with lyrics included.

Everyone hold up your umbrella
Standing underneath the sky
Everyone -- with your umbrella
Listen to the rain

Tracks three through fifteen are expanded versions of the themes or segments from the main track.

If you enjoy piano music, art, or rainy days, this one is too fun to miss.

Music: 4.5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4.5 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10



© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Travel the World: Australia: Froggy Green

Walker, Anna. 2009. Froggy Green. Kane/Miller. (Pub. March 2009) (Originally published in Australia).

"Froggy Green" is a Toddler Tale--a book that isn't quite a board book, yet not a picture book either. (It's sturdier than the traditional picture book. Yet more-grown-up than a board book.) This book is all about colors. Everyone seems to have a favorite color. (Of course, it may be a different favorite color next week, or next month...but) Each of the kids in Froggy Green has a favorite color: fireman red, fairy pink, sunshine yellow, monster purple. But the kids all have at least one thing in common. Can you guess what it is? I scream, you scream, we all scream for....

This one is a nice and fun book.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews