A welcome reissue of a charming wordless picture book which captures the routines of a family as they start the day, as observed by a young child. The little girl wakes up – a wonderful sequence of pictures perfectly recording the growing movement as she stretches herself awake – potters into her parents room, gets dressed, eats her breakfast and watches her parents doing the same. The strength of the book lies in the quality of the detail; the way tights are pulled on, the way Mum helps the little girl pour the tea, the way Dad manages the tea tray while keeping the little girl’s doll tucked firmly under one arm. Full of warmth it’s a book to enjoy time and time again. (2+)
Jan Ormerod (1946 - 2013) grew up in the fifties, in a series of small towns in Western Australia, with her three older sisters. As a child she drew constantly and compulsively, inspired by beautifully drawn schoolgirl annuals from England and secretly acquired American comics that were forbidden by her parents.
Her books have largely been a celebration and savouring of the positive experience of parenthood she truly had not anticipated–the fun, the warmth, and the love. Jan was acutely aware that picture books are almost always shared by the child and a caring adult.
She published more than 50 picture books in her lifetime, won many honours and awards, and her work is published in more than 20 countries.
