When Simon sees and appreciates his friend's red, plastic car, there's a car swap suggestion, but wait--Ferdinand's red car is only plastic. It's not even metal. And of course, metal is much better than plastic. Plastic is junk, but Simon still wants a red car.
A little bit of chaotic, confusing, childlike reasoning (or conning) ensues, and Simon convinces (cons) Ferdinand to swap his single red, plastic car for all three of Simon's metal cars.
Hope you're still with me. Both kids seem happy. After all, a deal's a deal.
When Simon gets home, the red plastic car cracks in half. He knows he has to keep the deal, so instead of approaching Ferdinand openly and honestly, he thinks up an underhanded way to get Ferdinand to break the deal, take back the cheap red car, and reclaim his three metal cars.
A sneaky, icky way.
Like the Maisy series by Lucy Cousins, this bright, silly, fun, kooky picture book uses kid-friendly speak and humour to entertain young children. I can't say the book has my sense of humour, but then, I'm not 4 years old. I also wonder at the messaging in this book. I'm not the type who needs or even wants messaging in picture books but I must say it kind of scratches that the only real outcome here is that Ferdinand is one big loser and that Simon has a nasty date with Karma. It also scratches that I can't stand Simon.
Nonetheless, it's a fun book for little ones, with fabulous illustrations that work really well for this age group.
Title: A Deal's a Deal
Author/Illustrator: Stephanie Blake
Publisher: Gecko Press, $15.99 RRP
Publication Date: 1 January 2014
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781877579844
For ages: 2 - 6
Type: Picture Book
