david bedford – Aussie Reviews

The Team, by David Bedford

“Can’t he talk?” said Harvey.
“No,” said professor Gertie. “His brain is pure football. He chases. He tackles. He keeps the ball. And he scores goals. He’s a Football Machine, and he’s programmed to win! Watch.”

Harvey Boots and his friends have a football team – but, Harvey says, they’re rubbish. They can’t win a game. Then Harvey’s friend Professor Gertie comes up with a new invention to help them. Mark 1 is a football-playing robot, and he’s good. The only problem is that inventions aren’t allowed on the field. Can Mark 1 help them at all?

The Football Machine is the first of three titles in this compilation, which brings together author David Bedford’s first three books about The Team. With plenty of soccer action (the author is UK-based, hence the term ‘football’), lots of humour and illustrative support, the stories are suitable for readers aged seven to ten, especially boys.

Good fun.

The Team, by David Bedford, illustrated by Keith Brumpton
Little Hare, 2007

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Who's Laughing? by David Bedford

Hippo is trying to sleep but every time he tries, someone starts laughing. On each opening, Hippo asks ‘Who’s laughing?’ On the opposing page an animal laughs their special laugh, while partially hiding behind down-opening flaps. There are clues on each page as to who’s causing the laughter. Bright colour jungle images lead Hippo high and low in search of answers. Hippo’s friend, a little blue bird, accompanies him on his search. Eventually Hippo and the little blue bird fall prey to the laugh-maker too. The story ends with everyone laughing together.

This is the paperback version of Who’s Laughing? with the original released in 2006. The bright yellow cover and image of Hippo laughing is sure to attract the youngest of children. The blue bird is here too on the front cover and gives the reader an extra something to follow through the pages. The format is mid-sized and the paper sturdy, perfect for little hands to flip and flip their way through. Recommended for 2-4 year olds.

Who’s Laughing? by David Bedford ill Leonie Worthington
Little Hare paperback 2007
ISBN: 9781921272110

This book is available online at Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Dads, by David Bedford

Animal dads show their special tricks in this book for the very young. Rhino’s dad is ‘tough and strong’ and able to lift heavy rocks. He’s well able to protect his child. Rhino and other animals show their ‘dad’ side in this simple and humorous rhyming text. Father and child share special times and the illustrations show the special smiles on every opening. Openings show the animals in their environments, from grasslands, through underwater, to a cave.

Dads is a sturdy hardback with lift-the-flap pages. It follows Mums, Bums, Toes and Tails from the same author/illustrator partnership. Like these other titles, Dads has a bright and appealing cover with characters sitting in a single-colour background, with title letters all in different colours. Alternate pages fold up and fold down, to reveal the special-ness of each dad. Warm colour floods each page, drawing the reader into the different worlds. The worlds might be different, but the relationship is the same. There is a strong sense of safety and fun shared. Recommended for preschoolers.

Dads, by David Bedford and Leonie Worthington
Little Hare Books, 2007
ISBN: 9781921049835

Other titles in this series:

Mums
Bums
Toes
Tails

Who's Laughing? by David Bedford and Leonie Worthington

Hippo is trying to sleep but someone’s laughing is keeping him awake. This lift the flap book takes hippo (and young readers) through the jungle, as he finds who is laughing on each double page spread. The Heee-hawww! Heee-hawww! comes from donkey, while rrrah-ha-ha-ha! is lion and ubble! ubble! ubble!is turtle’s laugh. Hippo is pretty unimpressed, but kids will love the novelty of the different laughs and seeing who they belong to. They’ll also love the final spread where the laughter is coming from hippo himself and the cause of all the laughter is revealed – monkey is tickling everyone with a bright pink feather. Kids will have fun going back and finding monkey and his feather in the earlier pages.

Who’s Laughing is a bright offering with plenty of colour and lots of laughs for an early childhood audience. The flaps are fold-down style, part of the sheet of each right hand page, so are sturdy and likely to withstand repeat ridings and handling by small readers.

Suitable for ages 2 to 5.

Who’s Laughing? by David Bedford and Leonie Worthington
Little Hare, 2006

Time for Bed, Isobel, by David Bedford & Leonie Worthington

“It’s time for bed, Isobel.”
“I don’t want to go to bed,” said Isobel. I want to be with you.”
“You will be with me,” said Mum. “I’ll be here reading my book.”…
“I’ll read my book,” said Isobel. And she did.

Isobel isn’t keen on going to bed. There is too much happening. She wants to do whatever Mum is doing – reading a book, picking up toys, doing exercises. But when Mum gets tired and lies down in Isobel’s bed, Isobel decides perhaps she is better off having the bed to herself.

Time for Bed, Isobel is a fun, affectionate story about bedtime, sure to ring true with parents of toddlers, who know the games toddlers will play to get out of going to bed. Artist Leonie Worthington (well known for her work on the Bananas in Pyjamas picture books), uses warm blues, pinks and purples, as well as splashes of sunshine yellow to give the illustrations a gentle feel, and her portrayal of Isobel and Mum as panda bears is delightful.

This is a lovely bedtime story.

Time for Bed, Isobel, by David Bedford & Leonie Worthington
Little Hare Books, 2006

One-o-saur, Two-o-saur and In-o-saur, Out-o-saur, by David Bedford & Leonie Worthington

These two colourful books each deal with a basic learning concept using bright dinosaur pictures and simple text.

One-o-saur, Two-o-saur is a simple counting text, from one to twelve. Simple rhyming text and the bright illustrations of Leonie Worthington show the dinosaurs doing simple things, some more dinosaurly than others. For example one-o-saur is seen hopping on one leg, whilst on the next page two-o-saurs are hatching from their eggs.

In-o-saur, Out-o-saur is a book of opposites with even simpler text (one word a page) and, again, the bright, humorous illustrations of Leonie Worthington. Each double page spread presents a pair of opposites – in-o-suar and out-o-saur; awake-o-suar and asleep-o-saur.

This is a cute pair which will appeal to the very young. First released in picturebook format in 2005, they have now been repackaged as sturdy boardbooks, suitable for toddler enjoyment.

In-o-saur, Out-o-saur and One-o-saur, Two-osaur, both by David Bedford & Leonie Worthington
Little Hare, First published 2005, this edition 2006

One-o-saur, Two-o-saur and In-o-saur, Out-o-saur, by David Bedford & Leonie Worthington

These two colourful books each deal with a basic learning concept using bright dinosaur pictures and simple text.

This is a cute pair which will appeal to the very young.

In-o-saur, Out-o-saur and One-o-saur, Two-osaur, both by David Bedford & Leonie Worthington
Little Hare, 2005

Knock, Knock, by David Bedford and Bridget Strevens-Mazro

Reviewed by Magdalena Ball

Most children are familiar with knock knock jokes. Mine will go on for hours coming up with their own variations, most not at all funny to adults, but leaving them screaming with delight as the jokes get raunchier and sillier by the minute. Even my two year old knows exactly what to say when you say knock knock. This new book by author/illustration team David Bedford and Bridget Strevens-Marzo is suitably visual, and builds on children’s delight in the knock knock joke. Even the youngest children will cotton on quickly to the repetition in the guessing game, and will join in the reading from page 1. Little mouse is cute and attentive to the door, and children will also enjoy following the visual sequence of his dressing, from naked towel wrapped, through boxer shorts, to full black tie tails.

Other educational sequences that children will probably notice before the adults include the build up of musical instruments on the stool and outer gear on the hanger by the door. The birds outside the window also change in each scene, and the monkey knocks the down the curios and flower on the little shelf. All of these images will be noted by children, who will also enjoy opening the sturdy flaps, and talking about the animals and the sounds each one makes. The finale will have all children involved making their own music “all together now.” The animals make great music sounds which are onomotopoetic enough to get the most reticent child involved, banging a drum, blowing a trumpet, or dinging on the triangle.

The bright colours and animal characters will provide visual appeal to children of all ages, and the combination of visual puzzles, and musical sounds make this a lovely interactive book great for reading one on one or in a group situation.

Knock Knock, by David Bedford and Bridget Strevens-Marzo
Little Hare
$14.95, ISBN 1877003808, Hardcover
31-May-2005, Pages 16

This book first appeared at Preschoolentertainment.com. It is used here with permission.

The Way I Love You, by David Bedford and Ann James

I love…
the way you always care,
the way you’re always there…
That’s the way I love you.

This is a picture book which parents, grandparents and other gift-givers will buy for its beauty. From an adorable cover, with a simple cream background and heartwarming illustration of a girl hugging her dog, right through to the back cover, with a view of the same pair from behind, with the girl’s arm around the dog and their heads leaning conspiratorially towards each other, all about this book is adorable.

The text is simple – with the first person child sharing the ways that she loves her dog, and the illustrations showing the simple joy the pair share in being together. Of course, the book is much more than a tale of a girl and a dog – the words remind us of the many ways of sharing love, in simple, every day moments.

Adult readers will be touched by this message and be reminded to cherish each small moment with their young loved ones, while children will love the simple rhythm of the story and the delightful illustrations of Ann James.

The Way I Love You will make a lovely going to sleep book and won’t suffer from being read over and over. It would also be an ideal gift for a newborn, to be treasured by both parent and child.

Delightful

The Way I Love You, by David Bedford and Ann James
Little Hare, 2004