A Gift for the King

Review also includes:

Jumping Josie, Anne Cassidy, ill. Sean Julian, 978-0749657741

Tom has to carry a special tray of cherry cakes to the king, for it is his birthday. Unfortunately the cakes look just too tempting, and by the time Tom gets there, more than one person has taken a cake from his tray. Will the king like this? Children new to reading, or those who will be read to from this book, will anticipate with enjoyment just what will happen when Tom gets to the king.

Jumping Josie is a frog, who enjoys jumping. One day she jumps too far, and finds herself in a garden from which she cannot escape. Her eventual way out will appeal to children and adults likewise, and her relief at being back home is something that young readers will easily identify with.

The simple pictures, as well as the size of the text in these small format books, are just right for the intended audience, and the introduction from the authors and illustrators at the start of the books is a novel idea that comes off very well. There is also a page of advice for parents and teachers at the back of the book; for parents, this page may well serve to help them when their child is enjoying the book – for teachers I would imagine that the page is pretty well unnecessary.