Caterpillar Cake: Read-aloud Poems to Brighten Your Day

‘Caterpillar/caterpillar/caterpillar cake/It’s the only thing that my mum can make…’ This jaunty rhyme sets the tone for this fun collection of poems designed to be read aloud to, or with, young children whether in a class or alone. Matt Goodfellow is expert at capturing the everyday world of the child in verse. He takes us to the beach to skim pebbles and watch a paper boat sail away. We fly helter-skelter to space, count animals in the zoo, play hide and seek, snuggle down because the snow is in town enjoy bath time before falling asleep to the lullaby of the river. None of the poems are long, making use of short lines and strong rhythms with plenty of repetition and alliteration; they demand to be spoken, the vocabulary direct, creating poetry out of the ordinary. Aiding and abetting him, the illustrations by Krina Patel-Sage burst off the page in joyful colour. A vibrant palette and strong images complement the words bringing them to life before they are spoken. The whole design of this book is a delight from the bright cover to the contents page providing quick access to favourites and a text presented in a clear bold font that is never obscured by the background. A book to really enjoy and one that should not be hidden but easily found among the picture books ready for storytime.