A Home Full of Friends by Peter Bently and Charles Fuge
| A Home Full of Friends by Peter Bently and Charles Fuge | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: A lovely story perfectly complemented by some excellent illustrations. Highly recommended. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: August 2017 |
| Publisher: Hodder Children's Books | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-1444920574 | |
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Bramble Badger was out looking for nuts by the river when the storm broke and he was so cold that he decided to go straight home. On the way he met a trail of devastation: Snuffle Dormouse's house has been squashed by a falling tree. She'd like shelter in Bramble's sett, if he has room. He's a little bit reluctant because he thinks his sett is in a mess and there isn't much space or dinner available, but what can you do when a friend is in need? Next it's Tipper the Toad whose home is full of mud, then Boo the Hedgehog's nest has been covered by leaves.
After a quick dash home to his sett (it looks immaculate to me...) he found that he had just enough food for three guests and himself; the crockery didn't match and the seating wasn't exactly elegant, but it would work. The sleeping arrangements were going to be... strange, but they'd get by. Only, when he answered the knock on the door he was in for a shock: his three friends had arrived with their families. How on earth was he going to manage? As it happened they not only managed rather well, they had an excellent time too. His friends had brought what food they could, some wood for the fire and some bedding. They had a feast and then they played games.
It's strange what draws you to a book, isn't it? I looked at Badger on the cover of A Home Full of Friends and he reminded me of a well-loved cuddly toy and I just had to have a look. I grinned all the way through the story: how lovely of Bramble to open his home and his heart to his friends when they were in need. I can understand why he worried that there wouldn't be enough food for everyone, but by pulling together they managed, and managed well. They even had fun. There's a moral there - but I'm not going to labour the point!
The story is written in rhyming couplets and it's so good, so natural that I didn't even notice until I read the book through a second time. It's a real pleasure to read either to yourself, or aloud. The illustrations really add to the story too: everytime you look at the pictures you find something you haven't spotted before: I was on my fourth or fifth read when I spotted badger's slippers. They've got a badger's face on the front. This is a book which will be returned to time and time again. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
Another gorgeous book where the pictures really add to the story is Storm Whale by Sarah Brennan and Jane Tanner.
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You can read more book reviews or buy A Home Full of Friends by Peter Bently and Charles Fuge at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy A Home Full of Friends by Peter Bently and Charles Fuge at Amazon.com.
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