Sally Williams reviews recent picture book releases in the U.K. for today's Independent.
Of special interest are:
- Roald Dahl's Song and Verse, compiled by Quentin Blake. There has been much recent interest in the project and I'm thrilled to see it is a success. Williams writes, "From the Centipede Song to Augustus Gloop 'The great big greedy nincompoop!'; from the epic Toad and the Snail to the dashed-off five-liner for the manager of Coutts Bank, this anthology confirms that Dahl was doubly gifted as writer of prose and verse. With the verses loosened from their traditional homes into a flowing charge, this book carries you, smiling, from beginning to end. " I can't wait until Roald Dahl's Song and Verse is published in the U.S. (U.K. publisher is Jonathan Cape)
- Lauren Child has a new "picture" book--The Princess and the Pea. Williams explains, "Lauren Child sets the action in tiny paneled rooms made from card, peopled by paper cut-outs and furnished with objects typically owned by miniature specialists." Hope this one makes it to our side of the pond by spring...
Also in the Independent today, Nicholas Tucker reviews recent teen lit, including Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief and Frank Cottrell Boyce's Millions.
