Oscar's Half Birthday

Bob Graham's everyday story of contemporary urban folk contains little in the way of plot but, as with all of his work, there is no shortage of that more elusive and essential ingredient: charm. The author's fascination with the little dramas of day-to-day living are evident in the gently observed detail of clothing, character and gesture as we follow Oscar, his sister Millie and Mum and Dad on their excursion to the park to celebrate Oscar's half birthday. The wealth of visual anecdotal detail will absorb children and parents alike. What Graham lacks in formal draughtsmanship is more than compensated for by the sheer warmth and humanity in his drawing. This is one of his more lyrical books and will reward repeated reading. I do wish his seagulls would look a little less like pigeons though.