Queenie the Bantam

This handsome, large format picture book starts dramatically when Caitlin's dad plunges into a lake to rescue Queenie, the bantam from drowning. 'That might have been the end of the story ... Graham tells us but it is not as Queenie confidently makes herself at home in Bruno the dog's basket. When the family return her to her farm, it might again 'have been the end of the story' but Queenie comes back to see them every day and to lay her eggs. Eventually, a new baby brother arrives for Caitlin and Bruno inadvertently hatches out Queenie's eggs, left in his basket, so there are chicks too.

This warm, funny, beautiful book is about change and adaptation to change. Bruno reluctantly but gracefully makes room in his basket for Queenie and her eggs just as Caitlin must accommodate the new baby. Just as life continues and we see relationships grow and change, so each episode ends with the reassuring refrain about the story continuing. Graham's family, as ever, is refreshingly contemporary with new man dad at the ironing board. The family is also one that can think about feelings together - spying on Queenie laying her eggs feels, they agree, intrusive.

Graham's witty, deftly expressive pen and wash illustrations amplify his understated text with movement, expression, feelings admirably conveyed. He uses the spreads in a variety of dextrous ways, from cartoon strip sequences to a map showing Queenie's path from the farm to Caitlin's house over a busy motorway bridge.