Sunny-Side Up

What can you do when the weather is grey and the rain is falling – especially if you are a lively child who wants to be outside? Well you might find a nest on the sofa – build a great tower of blocks – create a hidey hole where you can draw or imaginatively cook … all of these are brilliant suggestions filling in the hours until Mum comes home – and yes, the clouds clear; time to go out.

Fiona Woodcock’s illustrations capture the moods in this gentle picture book perfectly. A pastel palette of watercolours have been married to printing techniques to create a softly textured look, covering whole pages with tones that exactly mirror the emotion of the moment. However these are not impressionistic images. Clear pencil outlines ensure the little girl is a very solid creation who will engage the young reader in these very recognisable activities.  The gently rhyming text by Jacky Davis captures the child’s mood – bouncing long in anticipation at the beginning of the day, dripping with the rain and spiky with disappointment before settling into enthusiastic play. Excellent design adds to the visual appeal of the whole – spacious full page spreads combine with active vignettes, a clear font beautifully placed on each page and end pages that move from grey to rainbow drops; a lovely picture book to welcome and share.