BicadeIdeias

There are not many bookstores in the Algarve and those that exist have a limited English section. So I tend to read children’s picture books in Portuguese. While shopping this morning a bright yellow cover grabbed my attention. Papa das pernas longas ( Daddy Long Legs). Yellow always works well. Here is my review in English.

When Matthew’s father’s car has trouble starting, Matthew thinks they may never get to kindergarten. Worse still, what if they get there but the car won’t work in the afternoon? How will his father pick him up? Matthew is so worried that his father won’t be able to fetch him that he keeps asking him questions to reassure himself. The patient father’s answers get more and more imaginative until Matthew is satisfied. One thing is clear, nothing will stop Matthew’s father from fetching his son. The quaint illustrations depict the father’s rich imagination and the fresh colour palette enhances the positive mood of the story. A comforting father and son story suitable for any young child with separation anxiety.

Daddy Long Legs

Written by Nadine Brun-Cosme

Illustrated by Aurélie Guillerey

Ages: 2 to 6

First published by Nathan (Paris) in 2015

Published in Portugal in 2019

Portuguese edition

ISBN: 9789897078699

Edição ou reimpressão: 02-2019

Editor: Fábula

Idioma: Português

Dimensões: 219 x 271 x 9 mm

Encadernação: Capa dura

Páginas: 32

http://Hansel and Gretel by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whenever I see work by Lorenzo Mattotti it stops me in my tracks. This cover is no exception. Some years ago my interest in fairytales was reborn. As a young child, I found some of them quite scary. It’s wonderful to step back into the world of fairytales as an adult. Some of them are being reinvented whereas others, like this book, stay true to the original stories. Everything about this book oozes quality. The writing is good and the (dark) illustrations are amazing. They add mood and depth to the story. The factual back matter is a welcome bonus. I loved it!

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Today, in the bookstore, my eye fell on a book called NAO TENHO MEDO DO ESCURO (published by Jacarandá in March 2017). It is the Portuguese translation of a book called, I´m not afraid of the dark. Written by Helena Harastová and Illustrated by Jakub Cenki. It was designed by B4U Publishing (member of Albatros Media Group) in 2015. Immediately noticeable is the pleasing cover as well as good quality and design. This is an interactive pull-the-tab board book designed to be touched.

Are you afraid of the dark? I remember I used to be. I couldn´t sleep without an open door or a light on somewhere. Noises could be scary too. This book will appeal to little children who are afraid of strange noises, weird reflections, and shadows, that can accompany the dark. The clever illustrations (in tints and shades of night blue) and pull-the-tab feature (behind which bright everyday images hide) boost the minimal text to a new level. Join the protagonist in a variation of scenes in the dark that any child and adult can identify with. Fear after all is based on ignorance. All you need to do is turn on the light to find out that the monster you thought was hiding in the dark may not be a monster after all.