We Have Lift Off!

Farmer Mr Tanner abuses his livestock and pollutes the air, water and land around him. Time to do something about it, decide the long-suffering animals.  They hold a clandestine meeting and come up with an ambitious plan, a plan involving building an intergalactic rocket to transport them into the clear, clean skies beyond the reaches of human beings. Having built the rocket, a test flight is needed, decrees its designer. Three abortive attempts later, the animals are no nearer their goal but then who should discover the rocket but Mr Tanner himself. Greatly amused, he takes a look inside and … 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…

Not exactly what the animals had in mind originally but before long the word has spread and Mr Tanner isn’t the only earth-polluting human bound for outer space.

Narrated by a rosette-sporting chicken that becomes the first hen in space, albeit very briefly, the whole thing is hilarious and Hannah Shaw’s madcap illustrations with their attention to delicious detail are the ideal match for Taylor’s timely tale. With its wacky way of getting across the pollution message this one will assuredly appeal.