Good Bits

Tales told by an expert, this new story collection from Kes Gray and Ruby Wright is all killer, no filler. The dozen or so stories are pared right down so that readers are presented with the good bits only: the very minute the space ship lands in the garden; the confrontation with the school bully and his comeuppance; the exact moment the friendliest young pirate realises it’s time to make a quick exit from the crow’s nest. Each one is a bright burst of adventure and imagination, with exactly enough to leave readers smiling, entertained and thinking about what might happen next too. In an age of diminishing concentration spans, it’s exactly what’s needed, and a demonstration of what books do so brilliantly, i.e. invite the reader to dive into the action head first, engage their imagination to fill in the background as required and be ready to enjoy whatever treats the story and the author has in store. The stories are varied, some funny, some quirky, some that are surprisingly tender, but they are all delivered at the same speedy pace, Ruby Wright’s colour illustrations matching Kes Gray page for page in humour and inventiveness. Good bits? Make that the best bits.