Congratulations Debra!
I was excited to hear The Scared Book by Debra Tidball had won the SCBWI Australasian Crystal Kite Award. Debra works tirelessly to support Australian Children’ literature and its authors, so it’s wonderful to see her own star continuing to shine. The Scared Book was also a CBCA Notable Book in 2017, and one of my favourite picture books of the year. Plus Debra has one of the best authorly blogs ever.
To help celebrate, here’s a reprint of my 5-star review from the Funday section of the Daily Telegraph, August 2017.
The Scared Book – Debra Tidball & Kim Siew
Once there were some monsters. This book is full of them. Big, bright, colourful, funny-looking monsters. Two headed monsters, multi-eyed monsters and even one with a bat hanging off its arm. The book is so scared of the monsters, it’s afraid to tell its story. It needs help from the reader.
There’s a tingle in my spine. Can you scratch it for me? Prickly, three-eyed goosebumps need to be rubbed away. Each time the monsters are banished, something else happens. Now giant stomach butterflies need to be blown away. Monsters need to be trampled with fingers. And their terrible smell needs to be fanned away.
After all the scary monsters are gone, it’s time to sit somewhere comfortable with the book. Tracing this spiral with your finger will help me relax. Finally, the story can be told.
Every house, school library and preschool needs this book.
It’s a wonderful way to introduce children to how much fun reading can be.
Young readers are cleverly guided through interacting with the story and its monsters. The Scared Book is perfect for reading aloud to large groups of children or to a single child. Every house, school library and preschool needs this book. It’s a wonderful way to introduce children to how much fun reading can be.
For ages 3-6. 5 stars.
