Connie and the Water Babies
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Cover Story
The cover of this issue is a design incorporating illustrations from four books illustrated by the subject of our Authorgraph, Ian Beck. The top left illustration is from Five Little Ducks (Orchard), the top right from Poppy and Pip's Picnic (to be published Autumn '97 by HarperCollins), the bottom left from The Owl and the Pussy-cat (Transworld) and the bottom right from Home Before Dark (to be published September '97 by Scholastic). Ian Beck's Picture Book (Hippo) is reviewed in this issue.
Beck talks to BfK's interviewer, Julia Eccleshare, also in this issue. His distinctive decorative style with its sensitive pen line and cross hatching has a nostalgic but sometimes also a surreal quality - he describes it as 'a look that is floating, strong and wistful all at the same time'.
Thanks to Orchard, HarperCollins, Transworld and Scholastic for their help in producing this composite cover.
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Connie and the Water Babies
Georgien Overwater
The sequel to Twin Trouble (not to be confused with Penelope Farmer's book with the same title), this new title also features eight-year-old Connie and her baby brother and sister, the twins Charles and Claire. Twin Trouble showed how Connie copes with the arrival of twins in the family. In this latest book we have a sympathetic account of how phobias and fears can be overcome. Connie's fear of water is compounded by the fact that little Charles and Claire turn out to be real water babies at the parents and babies swimming session. The family's attempts to help Connie overcome her fear only make matters worse. Connie herself meanwhile manages to help various other members of her family overcome problems caused by their phobias - including Dad's dread of the Driller Dentist. Magic beads belonging to her friend Nurse Meade eventually enable Connie to take to the water with confidence. Humorously and perceptively written, Connie and the Water Babies is a story with which many children and parents will be able to identify. The book is illustrated on alternative spreads with line drawings.