Remember your English teacher saying you must never start a sentence with 'or', ‘but’ or ‘and’?
Whilst learning the ‘correct’ English is absolutely vital and I must admit, I’m a bit of a stickler for it, I do love a bit of creative license when it comes to the written word. Love a little irreverence. Love a lot creativity and the acknowledgment that kids speak very different to us adults. Yes, that’s right they does.
Hence. I just adore the title of Glenda Millard’s new picture book And Red Galoshes. A story about a rainy day, we meet two little poppets as they navigate the rainyness, hauling along a favourite pair of roomy red galoshes.
Remember the days when the simplest of objects were enough to create a dayful of imaginative exploits? A pair of red galoshes can become a carriage for your dog. A kite on the wind. Rhythmic drum sticks on the drainpipe. Oars in the bathrub.
When the galoshes are not on Grandma’s feet, of course.
Warm, toasty and sweet, Millard’s prose is as poetic and evocative as always. It’s no wonder illustrator Bentley was so inspired to create such stunningly beautiful illustrations to complement the text. Yes, Bentley’s pictures are superb in every form – colour, movement, drama and magic. He’s truly an author’s dream – each page an interpretation that’s completely frameable art (even if his version of galoshes are quite curious!).
A charming, truly beautiful book little ones will sit mesmerized by. Adults, too.
Title: And Red Galoshes
Author: Glenda Millard
Illustrator: Jonathan Bentley
Publisher: Little Hare, $24.95
Publication Date: 1 April 2011
ISBN: 9781921541469
Format: Hard cover
For ages: 1 - 5
Type: Picture Book
Buy this book online right now at The Nile!
