Aalfred and Aalbert

Described as ‘A tale of love, aardvarks, broccoli and a small blue bird’, this quirky, delightful picture book by Scottish illustrator Morag Hood tells the story of aardvarks Aalfred and Aalbert.  Aalfred loves stars, broccoli and picnics and sleeps all day while Aalbert loves flowers, sunshine and cheese and sleeps all night.  So, the two seem fated never to meet despite the increasingly desperate schemes of a small blue bird.  Until, that is, Aalfred’s rushed attempt to console the distraught blue bird sends him tumbling headlong into Aalfred’s burrow leading to the aardvark equivalent of a ‘happy ever aafter’.

This picture book is full of charm and gentle fun in its depiction of two endearing aardvarks and a determined and resourceful bird.  With its use of visual and verbal humour, bold fonts, bright colour, well-observed details and expressions this appealing story should leave its young readers, and their families, with smiles on their faces.