Peapod’s Picks is a weekly round up of some of the books that Peapod* has read (usually for his bedtime story) each week plus a review of at least one of them.
*His social media alter ego, not his real name!
This week:
I Don’t Want to Be a Pea by Ann Bonwill, illustrated by Simon Rickerty
So, as you know (or have just found out) our nickname for Peapod has always been Peapod. It began when I was pregnant and he was the size of a peapod and despite becoming quite considerably bigger, the name just stuck! So anything pea or peapod related we have to have (I bought him a wonderful ‘Peapod’ book for Christmas, Peapod Lullaby, that I’ve just realised I haven’t put up on here, so will post about that soon!)
We found this at a tiny stall on a local jumble trail and I picked it up solely because of the pea thing. I’d never heard of it before, but for 50p it was worth a chance!
And it definitely as worth it – I love this book!
I never post spoilers but just this once – the ending is revealed below! Skip ahead of you really don’t want to know!
Hugo and Bella are off to a fancy dress party as ‘The Princess and the Pea’ – Hugo is the princess naturally, but Bella doesn’t want to be a pea! Cue various suggestions which inevitably leaves one of them feeling put out (my favourite being Bella’s suggestion of a mermaid and a rock because Hugo is ‘grey and blobby’ so makes ‘a very fine rock’). After an argument, a strop, a sulk and finally a think about things, they both decide to let the other be the princess and end up going as…two peas in a pod!
There’s so much to enjoy in this, not least the lively, funny and expressive illustrations (Hugo in the shower washing off his pumpkin paint is just the saddest thing – I want to hug him!).
It’s a wonderfully written, witty and believable story of friendship and fall outs. Perfect for reading aloud, doing the voices and getting into character this is a great story to share. It’s very funny and relatable with a pleasing resolution.
I was also thrilled to see that it’s Hugo who unashamedly wants to be the princess – no making an issue of it, no gender themes to the book, it just *is* and I love that.
We thoroughly enjoyed this and I’ve now ordered the other Hugo sbd Bella books too!
What else did we read this week?
- Jampires by Sarah McIntyre and David O’Connell (superbly silly!)
- A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers (a real favourite of mine)
- The Lost Property Office by Emily Rand (Reviewed here)
- Hairy Maclary’s Bone by Linley Dodd (a classic rhyming tale)
- A Pipkin of Pepper by Helen Cooper (another classic with beautiful illustrations)
Have you read any of these?
Do you know of any other pea-themed picture books we’re missing?!
Which picture books or bedtime stories did you read this week?
