It's only as I was looking back at all the wonderful books I read in 2023 that I realised that five of my favourite picture books and early chapter books were Hook Books! I love the series, and I'm always excited to read new additions to it.A usual, I begin my list with a disclaimer - not all the books that feature in this list and the ones that follow were published in 2023. I just happened to read them in 2023. One difference this time, however, is that I received many review copies last year, so an overwhelmingly large number were actually published last year too! Here are my top six for ages six and under (though, of course, I'm not under six, but I loved these books anyway!). What Feelings Do When No One's LookingWhat Feelings Do When No One's Looking was the very best kind of birthday gift. It's a book I would not have bought for myself, but one that I treasure, not … [Read more...]
Passepartout, Is That You?
I attended part of Menaka Raman's session on Passepartout, Is That You? at Bookaroo Vadodara, and I was curious. I knew Passepartout was a tortoise, but that was all. What would the story be about?I finally read this delightful Hook Book just now, and I loved it!When repetition in picture books is well done, I love it. A few favourites come to mind instantly - All Mine and It's a Laddoo Party are at the forefront. In this book, we have Passepartout, is that you? And of course, each time the protagonist asks the question, it is not Passepartout, but something else altogether.. Because how could you have a story about a missing tortoise if we find the tortoise immediately?What I loved most was hunting for Passepartout in Jemma Jose's illustrations. Have you read You Can't Find Me? It's one of my favourite stories on StoryWeaver, and I've used it countless times at workshops. … [Read more...]