Ten Bright Eyes

The sequel to Cat Among the Cabbages, this new picure book from Hindley and Bartlett has mother bird leaving her hedgerow nest one spring morning in search of breakfast for her young. The rhythmic story follows her journey and in the process involves counting animals, finding shapes, looking at animal camouflage and identifying patterns, many scratched into the paint. ('Three slim, striped trees that shiver in the breeze, making dappled shadows in a glade - three dappled deer that leap away'.) A page at the back of the book has suggestions aimed at the adult reader for ways to involve the pre-school child for whom this book is intended. The vivid impasto acrylic spreads have secret half-page flaps of varying success in their ability to engage the young reader. The overall impression is that the book has been created for adult rather than child. Worth looking at nevertheless.