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

Thursday 29 February 2024

Review: Hatch and Match

Oh my goodness. This is such a joy-filled, delightful book! 

And it contains all manner of interactive fun and engagement potential, for small people.

Cluck, cluck, cluck. Scritch and scratch.

Chickens look for eggs that match.

Award-winning author and illustrator Ruth Paul’s opening illustration depicts a gaggle of hens sleeping in a tree. From here, we are encouraged to observe each hen’s individual patterning and markings, and then to seek out her particular, matching eggs.

With a gorgeous representation of difference and sameness in both hens and people – a motif through the book – the reader is encouraged to find chook eggs and match them to the hen that laid them. Thus, through a glorious series of adventures, we are reminded of the importance of diversity.

Hatch And Match provides search-and-match using colours, patterns, shapes and numbers – all the ingredients that ensure reader’s neurons will be firing every which way, regardless of age.

This book is chaotic, alive and completely mesmerising. It’s use of colour, horizon, shape and diversity of characters is pure delight. There’s something new to pore over at every page turn, and a veritable feast of illustrations, questions and ideas to follow through.

With tactile illustrations that you want to run your fingers over, this book will reward re-reading, re-watching and re-engaging with, every single time.

Highly recommended.


Title: Hatch And Match
Author/Illustrator: Ruth Paul
Publisher: Walker Books, $25.99
Publication Date: 6 March 2024
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760656980
For Ages: 2 - 6
Type: Picture Book