Published by Puffin Books, Penguin Random House, 2021
We all need to be reminded about so many things in life. Sometimes it’s the to-do list for the day, other times it’s the long-term plans for months in advance, and just occasionally it’s the reminders about what we need to make time for in the busyness of living.
Like a mum calling out to us as we leave for another day out in the world, Jane Godwin reminds us about all those things we need to remember; making our beds, finding socks that fit, brushing our teeth, and bringing our coats. We also need to remember other things like smiling, caring, playing, helping, and listening. And not forgetting the power of dreaming, hoping, adventuring, and celebrating.
The illustrations by Anna Walker beautifully reflect the text and bring each reminder to life with gentle clarity and thoughtful insight. The settings will be familiar to everyone, children splashing in puddles and climbing trees, running through long tall grass, and enjoying a solitary moment in front of a wide-open beach. Our collective achievements are amazing when we remember the ties that bind us together.
“Don’t forget that life is long, you’re not alone, that you are strong, and don’t forget that you belong.”
I can highly recommend this picture book for children 5-8 years and below are more award-winning picture books by this dynamic duo:
Published by Puffin Books, Penguin Random House, 2021
This is a very gentle, honest, and thoughtful picture book about not fitting in and what that feels like. It’s good to be reminded that, for some of us, life is full of challenges.
For the young girl in this story, some days just getting out of bed doesn’t feel like a good option, and making friends is not easy. Going to school requires more stamina and grit than she can imagine and feeling that her best is never enough can haunt all the hours of her day. Sometimes, all she wishes for is to be rescued from the place she should be and taken back to her comfortable home, cuddled up in bed under soft doonas with her beautiful tabby cat, quiet and peaceful. That wonderful place where the world can be shut away behind a closed door and all the failings, mistakes and challenges never faced or bravely tackled.
But life isn’t like that, even when you feel like you don’t fit in.
In this story, her mother gets to the heart of the matter. She understands the pull of hiding away and staying behind closed doors. She also acknowledges that being different can be life-changing and wonderful if you accept it:
“Being different isn’t easy, until you decide it’s a good thing to be.”
As the young girl thinks about this and wanders outside with her beloved cat Piccolo, she sees that many things in nature are different: birds, trees, clouds, and flowers. In a field of yellow flowers, there are a few blue ones too, and realisation dawns:
“No one wants everything to be the same. Things being different is what makes the world wonderful.”
So, let’s celebrate the things that makes us different and not hide our talents and gifts under doonas and behind closed doors, let’s allow all of our differences to make life more wonderful and a little easier for those of us who struggle with it.
The text by Sonya Hartnett makes this story easily accessible and the illustrations by Gabriel Evans beautifully reflect the emotional journey of figuring out how to find your place in the world. I can highly recommend this picture book for children 4-8 years and below are more suggestions for books that explore the idea of being and feeling different:
Colour Me by Ezekiel Kwaymullina Illustrated by Moira Court
The Glump and the Peeble by Wendy Meddour Illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown
Max by Bob Graham
All About Families by Felicity Brooks Illustrated by Mar Ferrero
All Bodies are Good Bodies by Charlotte Barkla Illustrated by Erica Salcedo
All Except Winston by Rochelle Brunton Illustrated by Nicoletta Bertelle
All Sorts by Pippa Goodhart Illustrated by Emily Rand
Brian The Brave by Paul Stewart Illustrated by Jane Porter
Egg by Sue Hendra Illustrated by Paul Linnet
Hugo: The Boy with the curious mark by Yohann Devezy Illustrated by Manuela Adreani
I Feel…Different by D.J.Corchin
My Friend Fred by Frances Watts Illustrated by A.Yi
Be Exactly Who You Are by Laura Gehl Illustrated by Joshua Heinsz
Chee-Kee: A Panda in Bearland by Sujean Rim
Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles Illustrated b y Rod Clement
How To Be a Lion by Ed Vere
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf Illustrated by Robert Lawson
Rufus by Tomi Ungerer
Antoinette by Kelly DiPucchio Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Published by Little Hare, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, 2020
If you know someone who is about to become a father, or if you are thinking about your own father, or even if you are wondering about what attributes make a father particularly good in that role, then pick up this book, buy it or borrow it, and enjoy reflecting on all the shapes, sizes and ways of being a dad.
There is a lot to be learnt from animals in the wild and the way they naturally and inherently behave. Philip Bunting has picked out a few species and highlighted the best behaviours that fathers can model.
Did you know that gorilla dads teach their babies how to find food, play and look after each other? A desert dwelling sandgrouse makes a big effort to keep his offspring well hydrated by dropping water into their mouths from his water-soaked feathers. The giant water bug has the responsibility of carrying the eggs, laid on top of his back by his dear lady, for weeks until they hatch. Flamingo fathers regurgitate food for their baby chicks, sounds gross, but not if you are the baby flamingo chick! The Australian magpie is well known for defending the nest of his young by swooping on anyone or anything that comes too close. Chinstrap penguin fathers have even been known to team up and incubate abandoned eggs, help them hatch and grow into maturity.
The lesson we learn from all these examples is that dads can come in all shapes and sizes, temperaments, and skills. All of them show their children how to live, by action and deed. Whether you are a father, mother, grandmother, grandfather, sister or brother, in a family of any description, we can all benefit from this simple concept, that sometimes our love is better expressed by doing than by saying.
Most animals in this picture book have their own page and colour palette, and some lucky ones are illustrated across a double page spread. All critters are easily identifiable, the text is short but informative, and there are a few humorous asides on some pages, making it hugely accessible and interesting for younger and older readers.
I can highly recommend this picture book for children 3-8 years and below are more suggestions for some of my favourite picture books about fathers:
My Dad Thinks He’s Funny by Katrina Germein Illustrated by Tom Jellett
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney Illustrated by Anita Jeram
I Love My Daddy by Giles Andreae Illustrated by Emma Dodd
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen Illustrated by John Schoenherr
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems
Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear? by Martin Waddell Illustrated by Barbara Firth
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Mitchell’s License by Hallie Durand Illustrated by Tony Fucile
The Big Honey Hunt by Stan & Jan Berenstain
My Dad is Brilliant by Nick Butterworth
Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle
Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney
My Dad Used to be So Cool by Keith Negley
Father Bear Comes Home by Else Holmelund Minarik Illustrated by Maurice Sendak
My Daddy is a Giant by Carl Norac Illustrated by Ingrid Godon
My Dad by Anthony Browne
Molly and Her Dad by Jan Ormerod Illustrated by Carol Thompson
Published by The Bodley Head, Penguin Random House, 2020
“Dogger has become something of a celebrity. He was put in a glass box, on tour, at the Ashmolean in Oxford and Liverpool Walker Art Gallery. He has one ear flopped down as it should be, and another was cocked up from years of cuddling and has remained that way after 60 years. His eyes are rather far apart, which makes him especially endearing. He’s retired from the celeb circuit now, living in a shoebox, only coming out for the occasional photoshoot.” – The Guardian, Dec 22, 2019
If you have picked up this book and been enthralled by the story, then make sure you go back to the beginning and read Dogger, also written by Shirley Hughes, way back in 1977. This Christmas sequel, released last year, has been written and illustrated by the same lady at the amazing age of 92. The wonder is that the children Bella, Dave and Joe are still much the same age as they were when the first story was conceived over 40 years ago, and life in this new story is much the same as it was then. It’s a time I remember in my childhood, when Christmas lists were posted up the chimney, paper decorations were made for the tree, and hand made cards were given with love.
Dogger is Dave’s favourite toy dog, and almost as old as Dave himself. He is brown and small, with one ear up and the other ear down, and Dave’s constant companion. Dogger has been lost before and Bella, Dave’s big sister, saved the day. As Christmas approaches in this story, Mum takes Bella and Dave to the shops and they very wisely leave Dogger at home, waiting for their return sitting on the windowsill. Nobody wants the stress and trauma of losing Dogger again!
Christmas arrives and we are enveloped in all the familiar traditions of the day, with stockings full of presents, wrapping paper strewn everywhere, grandparents joining the celebrations and a special visit to a lonesome neighbour. The strength of family bonds, the joy of being together and sharing in the deeper meaning of the nativity is expressed so beautifully in text and illustrations.
It’s not until the end of the day, when mum and dad are cleaning up, and all the children are asleep at last, that a wail is heard. It’s Dave and he wants Dogger, but where is he? It seems that this time, Dogger is truly lost. Can Bella save the day again with her kindness, ingenuity and empathy?
This is a wonderful story about family, love, loss and hope. A story that keeps reminding us about the important things in life and caring for others. I can highly recommend it for children 4 years and up to 104 years, after all, it was written by a 92 year old lady, with enough life experience to share her wisdom with everyone.
Below are more of my favourite stories by Shirley Hughes:
“There are over 300 different kinds of hummingbird and even the biggest is very small. This book is about the ruby-throated hummingbird. It’s tiny and weighs about the same as a penny, but every spring it flies over 3,000 kilometres from Mexico and Central America to spend summer in the USA and Canada, where it builds a nest and has its babies. In autumn it flies all the way back again, to spend winter where it’s warm.”
Nicola Davies and Jane Ray have combined their talents to tell us the incredible story of the mighty hummingbird. It may be small in size, but the hummingbird is astonishing in its capacity to travel long distances and heed that genetic inner calling to breed and follow the paths set down by generations beforehand.
Just like the circular route the hummingbird follows north and south, the story begins and ends with a little girl and her grandmother. We learn that the little girl will be travelling to New York City and leaving behind the colours and culture of her South American home, just like the hummingbird flying north.
Along the journey, the hummingbirds encounter different places to rest and eat, sometimes on a ship’s rigging, other times on nectar-filled feeding dishes, sometimes on blossom and fruit laden trees, until they finally arrive at their nesting sites.
We learn that these tiny birds can lose half their body weight during the flight and that their nests are only as big as half a walnut shell!
In New York City, a little girl spies something white and small on the grass in the park, she knows what it is. In South America, a grandmother opens up a parcel just delivered to her and inside there is a small white eggshell wrapped up tenderly with a letter and newspaper clipping…yes, hummingbirds have found their way to New York City.
Nicola Davies is a zoologist and author and has written many informative and educational picture books about animals in our natural world: Surprising Sharks (2003), Outside Your Window (2012), Bat Loves the Night (2001), Dolphin Baby (2011) and White Owl, Barn Owl (2007). I encourage you to check out her website for more information about her publications and workshops.
Jane Ray’s illustrations for this picture book about hummingbirds are gorgeous, I would like to wallpaper the rooms of my entire home with her art!
I can highly recommend this picture book for children 4-6 years and below are more suggestions for stories (and non-fiction texts) which teach us more about animal migration:
Migration: Incredible Animal Journeys by Mike Unwin Illustrated by Jenni Desmond
Circle by Jeannie Baker
The Long, Long Journey: The Godwit’s Amazing Migration by Sandra Markle Illustrated by Mia Posada
Is This Panama? by Jan Thornhill Illustrated by Soyeon Kim
Boundless Sky by Amanda Addison Illustrated by Manuela Adreani
How Far Home? Animal Migration by Monika Davies Illustrated by Romina Marti
Swallow Journey by Vivian French Illustrated by Karin Littlewood
Animal Journeys by Patricia Hegarty Illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies Illustrated by Jane Chapman
Atlas of Animal Adventures by Rachel Williams, Emily Hawkins Illustrated by Lucy Letherland
There is nobody like your big sister to tell you the bad news straight up.
In this charming picture book, we meet a young boy who is loving the season of summer and all the cool things there are to do while the weather is hot and balmy: swimming, eating ice cream, feeling that warm sun on his skin and being outdoors almost every day. His big sister, however, has some developing news and is quite happy to pass it on:
“You’d better make the most of it while it lasts. Summer’s going to end soon.”
And she almost delights in the apprehensive reaction she gets from her young brother! There will be shorter days, chillier weather, and trees will lose their leaves. Days and days will go by inside with nothing to do but watch the rain and feel cold and miserable…well, that is certainly a lot to be unhappy about.
But as winter approaches, something amazing happens. It’s just as his big sister says, but there is something wonderful (and not terrible) about snuggling up on the couch with his family, crunching through the colourful autumn leaves, splashing in puddles, skating on ice, and enjoying a big warm bowl of soup.
Yes, life is constantly changing, but if we bend into the change and embrace each new way of living, then sometimes, just sometimes, we can find our silver linings.
I can highly recommend this picture book for children 3-6 years to introduce them to the wonder of our changing seasons and below are more suggestions for picture books which focus on that theme, for both northern and southern hemispheres:
Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit by Il Sung Na
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
Tree by Britta Teckentrup Illustrated by Patricia Hegarty
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
My Boots in Season by Kerryn Pascoe Illustrated by Elise Hurst
Sing Me the Summer by Jane Godwin Illustrated by Alison Lester
Our Seasons by Grace Lin & Ranida McKneally Illustrated by Grace Lin
Ruby & Rufus Love the Water! by Olivier Dunrea
When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes Illustrated by Laura Dronzek
Lift-the-Flap Seasons and Weather by Holly Bathie
Dry to Dry by Pamela Freeman Illustrated by Liz Anelli
A Year on our Farm by Penny Matthews Illustrated by Andrew McLean
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
That’s Not a Daffodil by Elizabeth Honey
Spring for Sophie by Yael Werber Illustrated by Jen Hill
and then it’s spring by Julie Fogliano Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
All the Year Round by John Yeoman Illustrated by Quentin Blake
In the Garden by Emma Giuliani
Millie-Mae in Autumn by Natalie Marshall
The ABC Book of Seasons by Helen Martin and Judith Simpson Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini
Published by David Fickling Books, Great Britain, 2020
I think I have read just about everything that Michael Morpurgo has written…I just love the way he invites the reader into the story, makes the characters come to life, draws on our collective emotional experiences of what it is like to navigate the complexities of the world and shows us the way to go forward with integrity, honesty, and respect, even as we sometimes fail and make mistakes.
This story is about something that actually happened to Michael Morpurgo when he was a six-year-old schoolboy at St Cuthbert’s in England. His mum had read Edward Lear’s poem, The Owl and the Pussycat, to young Michael so often, and he had recited it so well in class, that the teacher nominated him to play the part of Owl in the Christmas school play. This was especially wonderful because the Pussycat was going to be played by Belinda…Michael’s best friend and the first girl he had ever loved. That’s a big thing for a six-year-old boy.
There are lots of preparations for the big night, lots of ups and downs in the rehearsals, but finally the curtains open on the stage and Michael and Belinda begin the performance of their young lives, as Owl and Pussycat.
All is going well, until the Owl picks up his guitar from the bottom of the pea green boat and his mind, voice, and heart freezes. The miracle that happens next is a testament to the wonder of friendship, love and team-work.
The illustrations for this story are so tenderly drawn by Polly Dunbar, with gorgeous details on every page: parquetry floors, costumes, paperchains, a double page spread for the opening night on stage and the wonder of friendship and miracles etched in people’s faces. An added bonus is that the end pages beautifully illustrate the complete poem by Edward Lear.
I can highly recommend this picture book for children 4-8 years and anyone who has memories of school plays and being saved by a friend. Below are more picture book titles by Michael Morpurgo, but if you have older children, please check out his other popular junior fiction books, you won’t be disappointed:
Coming Home Illustrated by Kerry Hyndman
Wombat Goes Walkabout Illustrated by Christian Birmingham
On Angel Wings Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Grandpa Christmas Illustrated by Jim Field
Dolphin Boy Illustrated by Michael Foreman
It’s a Dog’s Life Illustrated by Patrick Benson
The Silver Swan Illustrated by Christian Birmingham
The Best of Times Illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark
The Little Albatross Illustrated by Michael Foreman
The Goose is Getting Fat Illustrated by Sophie Allsopp
Simon James has selected and illustrated a collection of small poems to be enjoyed and savoured by young and older readers alike. The poem written above by Rod Hull is my favourite. It reminded me of something my daughter said when she started kindergarten.
My mother-in-law had made her three new and wondrous dresses for the occasion. One dress for each day of the week she would be there. When the first three days were over, my daughter asked what she would be wearing next time she went to kinder. When she discovered there were no more new dresses, my daughter declined very politely to go to kindergarten ever again!
Poetry is a wonderful medium that can be used to introduce young children to the emotive power of words and to help them see the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life.
In this collection, we are sledding down mountains, fishing for guppies, stepping over stones, going on adventures, feeling the summer sun, and wondering about the mystery of a fallen seed and what it might become. Each poem has its own double page spread, giving you time to pause and contemplate the language and the illustration before turning the page and investing your thoughts anew.
Contributions have been made by Charlotte Zolotow, Ogden Nash, Steve Turner and many others. I can highly recommend this picture book for children 3-6 years as a gentle introduction to poetry and below are suggestions for more of my favourite poetry and nursery rhyme books:
Animal Crackers by Jane Dyer
A Classic Treasury of Nursery Songs and Rhymes Illustrated by Trace Moroney
Playtime Rhymes: A Treasury for Families to Learn & Play Together Illustrated by Marc Brown
Eric Carle’s Animals Animals Compiled by Laura Whipple Illustrated by Eric Carle
My Country by Dorothea Mackellar Illustrated by Andrew McLean
My Very First Mother Goose Edited by Iona Opie Illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Chicken Soup With Rice: A Book of Months by Maurice Sendak
Thankful by Eileen Spinelli Illustrated by Archie Preston
Honey For You, Honey For Me: A First Book of Nursery Rhymes by Michael Rosen Illustrated by Chris Riddell
Shuffle and Squelch: Poems and Rhymes for Children by Julia Donaldson Illustrated by Nick Sharratt
Here’s a Little Poem Collected by Jane Yolen & Andrew Fusek Peters Illustrated by Polly Dunbar
Little Poems for Tiny Ears Poems by Lin Oliver Illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
The Puffin Book of Nursery Rhymes by Raymond Briggs
Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman Illustrated by Rick Allen
Wynken, Blynken, & Nod A Poem by Eugene Field Illustrated by Johanna Westerman
Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
Out and About: A First Book of Poems by Shirley Hughes
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear Illustrated by Ian Beck
Sing me the Summer by Jane Godwin Illustrated by Alison Lester
Mother Goose of Pudding Lane by Chris Raschka Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky
Clancy of the Overflow by Banjo Patterson Illustrated by Andrew McLean
A Child’s Book of Poems Illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa
Published by Little Tiger Kids, Great Britain, 2020
“All of us need a place to rest –
A cave, a warren, a pond, a nest…
Wherever we may choose to roam,
We need a place to call our home.”
Writing about this picture book today is especially meaningful. A few suburbs away my daughter and her partner are busily packing up boxes and heaving them into a moving truck which will take all their belongings and hopes for the future to a new home. It will be their own home, after years of renting and the excitement of this new phase in their lives, along with the responsibility of the mortgage, is palpable.
They say that “home is where the heart is” and for myself I feel that this is true. The walls, the roof, the people who inhabit the space, the atmosphere, the belongings, the events, the memorabilia, the warmth, and cosiness…all combine to give us an emotive connection to the space we live in. Whether we are animals or humans, these shelters enable us to thrive, create, and rest.
In this picture book, we meet a family of bears waking up from their winter den hibernation and venturing out into a world that is showing the first signs of spring. Almost all the pages have cut-outs, so you can peek through trees and branches to catch a glimpse of owls, squirrels, and beavers as they go about the business of making their homes. Rabbits in warrens, birds in nests, wolves in dens – this is a wonderful introduction to animals and their homes. Teckentrup’s illustrations vividly bring to life the creativity and wonder of home-making, the place that keeps us safe.
I can highly recommend this picture book for children 2-4 years and below are more suggestions for books which explore the idea of home, whether you are animal or human:
Home by Jeannie Baker
Let’s Go Home by Cynthia Rylant Illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin
A House in the Woods by Inga Moore
Mouse House by John Burningham
Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Two Homes by Claire Masurel Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
Home by Carson Ellis
The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman Illustrated by Karin Littlewood
Nest by Jorey Hurley
If You Lived Here by Giles Laroche
This Is Our House by Hyewon Yum
Welcome Home, Bear by Il Sung Na
No Place Like Home by Ronojoy Ghosh
The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl
Red House, Blue House, Green House by Jane Godwin Illustrated by Jane Reiseger
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
This is Our House by Michael Rosen Illustrated by Bob Graham
The title of this picture book and the soaring wingspan of the bird on the front cover suggests that this story is all about an albatross. And it is. But it is also a tender story about a father and son, grieving the loss of wife and mother, and learning to live with her absence in their lives.
We meet Javier, his father Tomas and Uncle Felipe, on the choppy seas sailing the Magdalena off the coast of their hometown, catching fish and whatever else might get caught up in their nets. Tomas has changed since the death of his wife, and we learn from the things he says and they way he says it, that this change has not been for the better.
One afternoon, an albatross gets caught up in the fishing nets and is thrown aside on the deck of the boat while Tomas and Felipe sort through the catch. Javier, a boy with a big heart, keeps the bird safely wrapped in a tarpaulin and hides it until the boat makes it back to the shore. Once there, with the help of other people in the village, and without his father’s knowledge, Javier creates a makeshift home for the albatross.
In the old storeroom behind the house, the albatross settles and grows strong again in Javier’s old play pen. During this time, we begin to understand why Javier feels compelled to help the injured bird. Like the albatross leaving its partner in search of food, Javier’s mother left home to travel to the city for work, but she never came back. Javier needs to help this albatross find its way back. He knows it won’t bring his mother home again, but he understands the nature of waiting and wanting.
When Tomas finds out that Javier has rescued and hidden the albatross, his father is so angry that he does something unforgivable. Javier responds in the only way that makes sense to him. Suddenly, father and son must face their own worst fears and make brave choices about what it means to love and be loved.
This is a dramatic story brought to vivid life by the intimate connection between text and illustration. Rubbino’s drawings are brilliant and evoke all the emotions and pathos of the story. I can highly recommend it for children 4-8 years and anyone who loves a good story about albatrosses.
For me, however, this story is a gateway to understanding that we all grieve in different ways, and that communicating how we feel can be hard, even with the people that we love the most.
Below are more suggestions for picture books about fathers and sons, a relationship that is precious, but not always easy. Fortunately, most of the books that are my favourites positively celebrate the wonderful bond that can be shared between fathers and sons:
Mitchell’s License by Hallie Durand Illustrated by Tony Fucile
Pete’s A Pizza by William Steig
On My Daddy’s Shoulders by Peter Lawson
My Dad Used to Be so Cool by Keith Negley
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson Illustrated by Tara Calahan King
The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman Illustrated by David McKean
Every Friday by Dan Yaccarino
My Dad Thinks He’s Funny by Katrina Germein Illustrated by Tom Jellett
My Dad Still Thinks He’s Funny by Katrina Germein Illustrated by Tom Jellett
Big Boys Cry by Jonty Howley
When You Were Small by Sara O’Leary Illustrated by Julie Morstad
The Boy From Mars by Simon James
The Deer Watch by Pat Lowery Collins Illustrated by David Slonim
Hello, Jimmy! by Anna Walker
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
No Kind of Superman by Danny Parker Illustrated by Matt Ottley
A Different Pond by Bao Phi Illustrated by Thi Phi
Spot Loves His Daddy by Eric Hill
Why I Love Footy by Michael Wagner Illustrated by Tom Jellett
