Zoe and Beans: Hello Oscar!

A book of sheer delight! In this partnership between renowned Mick Inkpen and his daughter Chloe, the language throughout is enchanting, and is more than matched by utterly charming illustrations. Being their fourth adventure, Zoe may already be familiar to readers, along with her devoted dog Beans. Here, Beans finds a guinea pig at the bottom of the garden… and another… then a tortoise! Even more surprising, Beans next finds a chameleon!! Odder still, a parrot appears.  Zoe takes all these strange visitors in her stride, wishing to find foods suitable for each one. But food for chameleon? She needs to google that! Odder still, a talking parrot appears, constantly repeating, ‘Hello Oscar.’ Determinedly, Zoe tries to teach the parrot to say ‘Hello ZOE,’ but with no success. When a hidden voice does call out ‘Hello Zoe,’ yet another new character enters the garden, along with more pets. Such a fun day for all concerned!!   Great attention to detail sets the whole production way above the average picture book. If you haven’t already seen it, find it!  (Do look at Zoe’s SOCKS!… and the chameleon, on the final page!)