No Tails Necessary!

Fairy tales, scary tales, funny tales and bunny tales. Welcome to Ginormous Tales! No tails necessary!

Here at Ginormous Tales we plan to take you on an adventure through children’s books, old and new. 

We hope you will join us as we review, celebrate and – most importantly – enjoy stories.

There will be reviews, character profiles, quotes and plenty of fun and games! 

We invite you to share your thoughts, experiences, suggestions and perhaps even a drawing or two! 

Coming soon to Ginormous Tales – take a leaf out of the book of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

Oi…Blog!

Leaping along nicely to our second review – ‘Oi, Frog!’ by Kes Gray and Jim Field. With a title like that, the giggles may start before you even turn to the first page of this little masterpiece!
The story itself starts with the same interjection from a rather pushy feline. He appears to be the self-appointed authority on wear animals can sit! Poor Frog is bewildered and desperately pleads as cat provides him with a crash course in allocated animal seating. 

Each combination of animal and resting spot rhymes beautifully. It drives the reading rhythm and pace faster as the cat becomes increasingly frustrated with Frog! You can almost hear the cat gasping for breath after each list of animals and their specified spots. The book is an excellent introduction to the concept of rhyming for younger children, and readers of all ages will find themselves trying to guess which animal and place is coming next.

All of the illustrations, vivid in their own right, are set against strikingly colourful backdrops. Their true genius lies in the brilliant manner in which Jim Field has depicted the range of expressions for the animals, dependent upon their fortune (or lack thereof!) when it comes to the strict rules of seating. 

Unlike many young children’s books, there is no lesson in morality here. The Cat does declare, “It’s not about being comfortable…It’s about doing the right thing,” but there is no need to look for a deeper, hidden meaning – this book is all about the whimsical. So sit back, relax and prepare to have your ribs tickled!

Did you think of any other animal and seating combinations as you read the book? You might like to try ‘Oi, Dog!’ the follow up caper to see what happens next!

The next Ginormous Tales review will be ‘Five Minutes’ Peace’ by Jill Murphy. 

Once Upon A Time…

Where better to start than The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle? This book is a children’s classic! It holds a special place in many a childhood memory, so if you’re looking for a light hearted memory refresher, or to be introduced to a future favourite, read on!

Eric Carle invites you to take a journey through the natural life cycle of a curious young caterpillar. Follow him as he…*spoiler alert*…hatches, nibbles, builds and naps his way to butterfly status! You may think that you have had a busy week until you see what this little guy has been up to! 

There are simple illustrations that younger and older readers alike will love. The pictures are enhanced by the holes in selected pages, appearing in the various foods the caterpillar has nibbled his way through. Young readers will love to trace this journey with their fingers and turn the pages that vary in size.

The language used is concise, with some gentle repetition that really adds to the charm of the book. You’ll have learnt all the words before you know it! Indeed, the story is equally enjoyable read aloud in a group or as a wonderful bedtime story, listing the many snacks together. 

This book is very much a favourite in my family. If you are yet to read this book…please go out and get a copy! Treat yourself or support your local library with a visit! 

Next time you see a caterpillar, spare a thought for him and all the hard work (and snacking!) he is doing. If only we could all become such beautiful creatures after eating so much cake and Swiss cheese!

What did you/your family/class enjoy about The Very Hungry Caterpillar? Would you add/change anything? Please feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a reply below. 

Next time…Oi, Frog! by Kes Gray and Jim Field.