'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Wednesday 9 June 2010

Review: Daisy All-Sorts

Title: Daisy All-Sorts

Author: Pamela Allen

Illustrator: Pamela Allen

Publisher: Puffin Books, $14.95 RRP

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9780140556872

For ages: 3+

Type: Picture book

About: Daisy is just an ordinary dog. Her master, Stanley, is an ordinary man. Together, they live a simple life and walk together every day.

Until Stanley buys a new bicycle, and Daisy has to run really fast down the hill to try to keep up with him. Luckily, Bella is waiting at the bottom and helps Daisy to cool down, by giving her a bowl of water and… three licorice allsorts.

Daisy loves these scrumptious licorice lollies so much that she wants them every day. Bella soon learns to give them to her and Daisy becomes the most extraordinary dog – dancing and doing tricks every time she eats them.

Now, she is Daisy All-Sorts, The Extraordinary Dancing Dog.

I stumbled upon this book through a conversation with a friend about children’s books. She had seen Daisy All-Sorts and fallen in love with it, and loaned me a copy. After one read, my daughter (not me, no, not me) was so attached to it that I had to buy a copy.

This is a simple story from Allen, a master of picture books. The illustrations are uncomplicated, but colourful and appealing, and the words are fun and expressive. This ordinary little dog, who becomes a dancing, performing star, is just gorgeous.

Sometimes it is the simplest of stories that find a place in our hearts.

This book is available online

Author website