The Books That Made Me

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

By Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith

Anarchy. Invention. Hens who get angry about ISBN numbers. As a child I couldn’t believe that anyone had allowed this book to happen. This retelling of fairy tales still feels totally unhinged, from the writing to the illustration to the design – everything is designed to disrupt and debunk. Every page has a banging joke, even the back cover – ‘Who’s this ISBN guy?’ – none of it’s dumbed down for kids, no edges are dulled. It hasn’t been made to feel like a children’s book, it feels dangerous and out of control and that’s why kids love it.

Last Stop on Market Street

By Matt de la Peña + Christian Robinson 

Although this picture book tells the story of a single bus journey, it somehow contains the whole world. A child makes a very ordinary trip with his grandmother, but along the way, we meet all kinds of people. People without homes, people with tattoos and those in wheelchairs, buskers, teenagers, a blind man, and a lady with some butterflies in a jamjar. We see beauty in the every day and see the world through other people’s eyes. Not only one of my favourite books, but one of my son’s too.

How Pizza Came to Queens

by Dayal Kaur Khalsa

I loved this story about immigration and pizza and family when I was at school. And I love it still. The story of a relative who visits from Italy, and although she can’t speak English, she finds other ways to become part of the family. I refound it recently and hadn’t remembered how beautifully off-kilter it looks. A piece of pizza-based folk art.

The Little Island: 

By Margaret Wise Brown + Leonard Weisgard

This beautiful picture book won the Caldecott Medal in 1947, but it’s as timeless as they come. It’s a shame you don’t see it around that much these days. It tells the story of an island throughout the four seasons, including crabs, seals and a visiting cat who can’t handle the island’s deepest secret. It seems like a simple book, but there’s a whole lot going on beneath the surface. The way the world appears is all to do with who’s looking at it.

Eoin McLaughlin, author of Frank The Pizza

Children’s Choice for June – Frank The Pizza

Reviewed by Erin from Book Worms

Frank the Pizza is about someone trying to fit in but not being able to because they are different.  I thought this was a heartwarming book. I loved this book because it’s funny and all about friendship. The book is set at a kid’s party. The main characters are Frank the Pizza and Francis the Cupcake. When they go to a party, they experiment with different toppings like BBQ chips and marshmallows. I would recommend this bok to aged 7 and under. I give it five stars!