Child's Play

“NOT last night, but the night before…twenty-four robbers came a knocking at my door…”
Can you remember any more of this playground rhyme? We couldn’t but Audrey Wood supplies the rest of the verse, with vivid illustrations, lots of hot peppers and an ending that shows that sharing is better then stealing; as the robbers turn out to be not quite the baddies they at first appear.

Evening Echo/Irish Examiner. 1st December 2005

Big, bold, bright simplistic illustrations perfectly partner simplistic repetitive text in this ‘lift the flap’ picture book for infants. Mouse delivers Frog a square parcel which is patterned and coloured the same as frog. When the flaps are lifted, a circular parcel with a different colour and pattern is revealed. When the page is turned a new animal character (who is the same colour/pattern as the parcel) is introduced and the parcel passed on and opened anew.

This is an entertaining, amusing book and the bold, colourful illustrations and repetition of words will appeal to younger infants.

Inis. 31st May 2005

The night before, and the next day, and the morn before and the next hour the clever maid continually pleases the twenty-four robbers and shows the advantages of sharing in a beautifully simple book by Audrey Wood with 24 robber to be counted on each double page.

School Librarian Journal. 31st March 2005

This is a wonderful version of a traditional skipping rhyme. Twenty-four robbers return to the same house again and again, and are taught that sharing is better than stealing. Each visit from the boisterous robbers leaves the reader eager to know what they will take next.

The catchy rhythm and rhyme of this book give it an exciting pace, making it perfect for reading aloud with children. The repetition and segmenting of key words also makes it ideal for beginner readers. Each page is filled with bold, colourful and detailed illustrations depicting the rhyme as it moves along. Get children to join in with this story and count the twenty-four robbers, which appear on every page.

BA(Ed) English Specialist, Durham University 5 to 7 Educator. 1st February 2005

This funny book is written and illustrated by Audrey Wood with lilting text and irreverent illustrations. Parents won’t mind reading this book again and again at bedtime because of the hilarious twist in the tale and the catchy rhythm.

The Green Parent. 1st December 2004