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

Monday 15 October 2018

Review: Bonnie and Ben Rhyme Again

Bonnie and Ben Rhyme Again is a companion to the popular Good Night, Sleep Tight! by the marvellous team of Mem Fox and Judy Horacek. In it, we join Bonnie and Ben on an outing with their friend Skinny Doug as they climb a hill, see some sheep, a spider, a plum tree and more.

The story features six well-known nursery rhymes and brings them together with fun, repetitive and memorable rhyming.

On their journey, Bonnie and Ben take the lead with telling nursery rhymes, while Skinny Doug encourages their enthusiasm with a catchy, highly praising phrase which repeats and becomes more joyous with each read. Children will be interacting and chanting ‘I love it, I love it! Well done, and hurrah! Can you tell me another? How clever you are!’ in no time, I know I was. Once I got past the urge to chant the words from the earlier story of Good Night, Sleep Tight! that is.

The six nursery rhymes featured are Jack and Jill, Little Bo Peep, Little Jack Horner, Little Miss Muffet, Ring a Ring o' Rosie and my all-time favourite Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

The bright colour palette and illustrations create perfect unity with the text and are recognisable from other stories by the same team such as Where is the Green Sheep? and Ducks Away. In particular, the coloured stars in the night sky near the end of the book bring me much joy, leaving me sleepy and reminiscing of earlier stories illustrated by Judy.

There’s no denying that this story is yet another all-round winner in the list of Mem and Judy creations. Great for reading aloud, encouraging interaction and furthering literacy. A wonderful bedtime story which can, of course, be read at any time.

Title: Bonnie and Ben Rhyme Again
Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: Judy Horacek
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 October 2018
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781742996240
For ages: 2+
Type: Picture Book