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

Friday 26 April 2019

Review: Hip Hip Hooray

Birthdays are all about family and friends, fun and games, anticipation and celebration. And this latest book from an award-winning duo is all of the above, wrapped up in a glorious package of colour and glee and loveliness.

Following on from their successful Christmas book, Merry Everything, Tania McCartney and Jess Racklyeft have created a sparkling book about every child's favourite day of the year.

Starting on birthday eve with party preparations, the excitement grows throughout the book to the big moment of the birthday cake, that all-important wish and those cheers of 'hip hip hooray' that make a child feel so special and loved.

Once again, Jess has conjured an adorable menagerie of animals to highlight the universal joy of birthdays. Orangutans decorate the trees for the big day, bilbies sign birthday cards, zebras play party games and hummingbirds bring out the cake. And each species has been cleverly selected with a dash of humour. You'll love the wide-eyed possum, unable to sleep a wink, the narwhals whacking the pinata, and the elephant blowing out the candles.

McCartney's use of language is delightful and delicious, with every word a treat to read. The anticipation is beautifully built, taking the reader along for the rollicking ride.  For added razzle-dazzle, you can even download a free DreemAR App and see the pages come to life.

There's so much joy in this book, it's enough to make those of us who have started to dread birthdays, slap on a party hat and send up our own cheer — hip hip hooray!

Title: Hip Hip Hooray
Author: Tania McCartney
Illustrator: Jess Racklyeft
Publisher: Windy Hollow, $25.99
Publication Date: April 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922081766
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book