Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
January 1, 2003/in Picture Book Under 5s Pre-School/Nursery/Infant /by Angie Hill
BfK Rating:
BfK 138 January 2003
Reviewer: Valerie Coghlan
ISBN: 978-0224064712
Price: £10.99
Publisher: Jonathan Cape
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: Under 5s Pre-School/Nursery/Infant
Length: 32pp
Buy the Book

Loveykins

Author: Quentin Blake

Augustus, aka Loveykins, is found by Angela Bowling on the floor of the great woods, blown out of his nest. Angela, a recognisably Blakean lady d’un certain age and eccentricity, brings her find home, feeds him and wraps him in many layers of clothing. But baby birds turn into big birds, and eventually Loveykins flees the coop, or more literally the garden shed which Angela has had built especially for her charge.

Loveykins is a picture book story full of warmth, and humour, and gentle acceptance of difference. We can only guess at the longing felt by Angela as she walks round her village with Loveykins in a smart new pushchair. But she is also a resourceful lady and with a somewhat bizarre touch, comforts herself with ‘a wonderful collection of cactuses of all shapes and sizes’ after the leaving of Loveykins.

Blake knows how to use white space on his pages to the best advantage, and he also knows how to move characters across and around the spaces to advance the story. Seemingly artless twiddles of the pen convey depths of meaning, and as for Loveykins’ eyes, well, they say it all …

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Angie Hill http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Angie Hill2003-01-01 17:57:162023-07-02 18:00:24Loveykins

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

Download BfK Issue Bfk 272 May 2025
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

‘Exceptionally talented illustrators’ Shortlist announced for the 2025 Klaus Flugge Prize

May 15, 2025

Next stop Shakespeare’s Globe – finalists of Poetry By Heart competition 2025 announced

May 8, 2025

School Library Association announces Information Book Award longlist and new nationwide Book Club

May 7, 2025

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2025 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
Pirate Boy Daisy May
Scroll to top