Here is another delightful book with Maudie and
Bear, little and big, close friends, totally devoted to each other.
Maudie decides she needs some exercise. She
suggests to Bear that they go for a bike ride. But it’s not as simple as just
getting up and going.
Maudie needs first to find her sunglasses, so Bear
waits. Then she needs to find their hats. Bear goes out to get the bike ready.
Maudie can’t leave without her scarf, or her sunscreen, or her bug spray.
In the meantime, patient Bear waits outside with his hat on, in the company of two magpies, while Maudie searches for all the necessary things that she must have before she sets out.
Themes of friendship, devotion, patience and
kindness float through each scene.
This divinely illustrated board book, ideal for
little hands, comes to life with the immensely talented Freya Blackwood’s
illustrations. She not only interprets the text, but builds an entire structure
of detail and atmosphere to surround the two characters.
This is what I love about picture books; that I can
discover the ‘what else’ that is happening in the story. I feel awe at the
illustrator’s ability to create a whole backstory for the text. Personal facts
about the characters are made visible to us through the intricate details presented
as props behind the words. We feel the unspoken sense of adventure and
togetherness the two share. All this reveals the illustrator’s insight to see
beyond the text with an extended view, and the ability to present it so convincingly to the reader.
Soft pastel shades convey a sense of calm and
harmony between little Maudie and huge Bear. The layout is perfect. Limited
text allows the illustrations do the talking. Simply perfect!
Title: A
Maudie and Bear Story: The Bike Ride
Author:
Jan Ormerod
Illustrator:
Freya Blackwood
Publisher:
Little Hare, $14.99
Publication
Date: November 2016
Format:
Hardcover
ISBN:
9781760128982
For
ages: 1+
Type: Picture Book
