Oliver and the Noisy Baby

Oliver can’t deal with his baby sister’s bed-time howls, so he escapes from the chaos in his plane. Visiting exciting places from freezing poles to jungles, globe trotting Oliver is encouraged to leave each place and discover another until the calls from home are too insistent to be ignored. He returns to ‘the place he loved best at the end of each day’ and finds his mum and dad worn out by his crying sister. Now satisfied with his wanderings, Oliver has room to consider that he may be the one the baby needs, so he ‘huddles and cuddles’ her until she falls asleep. The story, adroitly told in gentle rhyme, is perfect for those suffering from the upheaval a new baby brings into the household. And as the saviour of the situation, the older sibling is given the power to shape the situation his way, calmly moving through the imposition a new sibling has brought into his life.

Quirky illustrations with original characters let the gentle rhythm of this story unfold with perfect precision, while the controlled use of pattern and texture adds to the whimsical, stylised feel throughout. This is an excellent addition to any family library.