Pip and Posy: The Little Puddle

Review also includes: Pip and Posy: The Super Scooter, 978-0857630056

The world of Pip and Posy is an autonomous one where independent toddlers care for one another whilst remaining essentially child-like. Despite lack of adult intervention it is safe too, because in this enclosed world even toddlers can be sensible, nonjudgemental friends and the support they give one another is deeply reassuring. Part of the growing up process is the need to sift through experiences, mastering regulations to build confidence and repeating routines to feel grounded. It’s a necessary progression as well as a way of understanding the world and these books provide reinforcement to the child’s need to comprehend systems. Axel Scheffler really knows about telling stories in pictures and much is enlarged upon in his bold, playful illustrations, adding humour, interest and delight. However, although the slow pace of the stories matches the pace of the very young, incidents and drama are rather too drawn out, and perhaps a 24 page format would have worked better for this series. In The Super Scooter, for example, two double pages are given to the moment when Pip falls off the scooter and the ensuing resolution takes four spreads. Partly this is due to the formula that binds the pair of titles together, as once the story is finished a denouement occurs where the friends have a bath or go home adding a final spread where the pair exclaim ‘Hooray!’ This works in terms of sheer fun, so in the final analysis perhaps the pleasure of tots joining in to shout is enough.