The Runaway Tractor; Pig Gets Stuck

Usborne have been trawling their backlist to find something to publish in big book format. These two episodes - I cannot bring myself to call them stories - are set on Apple Tree Farm and feature Mrs Boot the Farmer and her two children Poppy (a passive character who says nothing in either book) and Sam who utters a few banal words.

In both books, the pedestrian text is arranged with a single line at the top and two longer lines at the bottom of each page. This, it is claimed, provides tow versions: one for 'novice' readers and one for 'more advanced' readers. Even in big book format I cannot imagine either version holding a child's interest. The watercolour illustrations are flat and static and add nothing; the most they have to offer in terms of visual literacy is a little yellow duck which for no apparent reason, is to be found in every picture.