The Great Aaa-Ooo!

It is night time in the dark wood, and as the animals try to settle a horrible noise is heard, a piercing and alarming screech disturbing the peace. What can it be? Perhaps a monster? The animals gather together for safety in Owl’s tree until the branches snap under their combined weight and amongst them, the noisy culprit, Wolf is then revealed. Scared of the dark, he has been howling in the night. Reassured by Bear, the little wolf settles down and all falls quiet once more; until that is Cock crows, breaking the silence and the animals are disturbed yet again.

This is a delightful picture book, beautifully written with a pleasingly patterned story structure, rhyme and also repetition in the conversations between the animals ‘Not I… Nor I… then who?’ There is humour in the animals falling from the tree and in the cleverly ironic ending with the cockerel crowing.

The art work across double page spreads throughout is simply stunning with bold black backgrounds, a striking white font and beautifully coloured and textured animals. Emotion is cleverly conveyed in the drawing of the animals’ expressions and their body language. We feel sympathy for poor Wolf cub alone and scared at night, and relief when the other animals reassure him and care for him.

A picture book which adults and children will enjoy sharing together and want to return to. Simply gorgeous.