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but sometimes a splat is
much more than that!’
From the creators of the Children’s Book Council Notable, What is a Dot? Comes, What’s that Splat? The perfect companion book, that once again challenges the imagination and encourages creativity in both the reader and the child being read to.
With hints of a Rorschach Inkblot Test, Joanna Bell has
written a book with perfect rhyme and a bouncy rhythm that preschool aged
children will love. This is definitely a book that will have children nodding
along and reciting back in no time. Which means be prepared for multiple reads.
The illustrations grab your attention with their bold
colours and strong graphic shapes. But I refuse to use the word simple. With
books like this, it is often assumed that the illustrations took the best part
of an afternoon, but the simplicity of images can be misleading. I would hazard
a guess that that Amelia Luscombe actually gave quite a lot of thought to the
shape, size and splatter patterns of each and every splat. It is very easy to
be lazy when creating books for younger audiences but when the effort is put in
to get things just right, it makes all the difference. Well done Amelia.
More and more we are seeing the creative arts being overlooked in education. It may be aimed at the preschool aged child but there is no reason that What’s that Splat? cannot be utilised in all classrooms. There are a myriad or activities that can stem from the book's original premiss. Visual literacy is so important and the more we can teach our children the better. Understanding how to process images and learning how to communicate verbally what we see, can help in so many ways, not just in the arts.
What’s that Splat? is a book that doesn’t end at the last page. In fact the final line, What can you see?’ has endless implications in the real world. From looking at clouds, or puddles after the rain to squiggles on tree bark or a chocolate smudge on a jumper. By simply asking, what can you see? You light up the part of the brain that brings art and stories to life. It is vital to nurture this creative spark in children(and adults), which makes books like this so important.
Title: What's that Splat?
Author: Johanna Bell
Illustrator: Amelia Luscombe
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Publication Date: 2 June 2026
Format: Board book
ISBN: 9781760764821
For ages: 2+
Type: Picture book