Tom Lichtenheld

Bridget was a passionate young artist, more interested in her drawing than in things like ice cream. Then one day, while she was working outside, the wind came and carried off her beret, leaving her bereft. Her stylish hat was her artistic inspiration - how could she find a way to create without it...?

An engaging picture-book examination of the creative process, Bridget's Beret explores both the idea of artistic inspiration, and of artist's block, demonstrating one technique - just starting show more a project, and seeing where it takes you - that someone might use to overcome such a challenge. I liked the author's afterword, in which he presents little vignettes about various painters and their technique, as an inspiration for young artists. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books about creativity, the artistic process, and how to overcome those moments when inspiration dries up. show less

Author Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrator Tom Lichtenheld team up in this amusing picture-book examination of perspective, as two unseen narrators argue about whether the creature before them is a duck or a rabbit. It all depends upon how you look at it, as it happens...

Justly praised as a means of explaining differing perspectives and opinions to younger children, I think Duck! Rabbit! also works very well as an exploration of visual orientation. It's an interesting thing, how one "reads" show more an image, and is tied I believe, to how one reads text. The standard western method of reading from left to right influences western artistic standards, with paintings and other visual works of art often considered most powerful, when moving across the canvas in that same direction. But what happens if one reads in a language that moves across the page from right to left? Will this influence how one "reads" artwork? This engaging little book really demonstrates this kind of visual orientation, and I suspect that most young western readers will have an easier time seeing the rabbit, and will have to look a little harder for the duck. I know I did! Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books containing visual puzzles and/or games, and to those in the market for children's stories teaching about perspective, and how it can change. show less

Long ago, I first saw this cartoon, inspired by a Victorian optical illusion, and saved it as a favourite.

"There can be no peace until they renounce their Rabbit God and accept our Duck God."

In recent years, I've become especially fond of it, as a timely message to counter the entrenched and divisive politics in many parts of the world, including my own (Brexit, for example). It doesn’t apply where one person is arguing that 2+ 2 = 5, but it’s a simple and useful reminder that on many show more issues, opposing opinions are at least partly a matter of perspective, rather than one being totally right and the other totally wrong.

I read this book because, a couple of days ago, I saw a video filmed by Prince Harry, in which Meghan reads it to their son, HERE. It’s for the charity campaign #SaveWithStories, which seeks to provide food and learning resources to children affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

I’m not a royalist (but I'm not an abolitionist until there is a clear, viable alternative, that is better) or follower of celebrities, but I thought the video was sweet, and the choice of book, showing the funny ambiguity of the duck/rabbit, with bold and simple illustrations, was especially apt in these fraught times.

I might have forgotten about it, but the next day, I saw on Twitter that some other author, who I’ve never heard of, was trashing the whole thing and accusing Meghan of being unmaternal and merely acting the role of a mother. I am aware of the huge amount of vitriol spewed at Meghan, often for doing the same things Kate is praised for. I've no idea what sort of mother she is, if she's "good" or "bad" for Harry, or the wisdom of posting the video when they’re also asking for privacy. But I do think it’s sad to see such mudslinging, especially in the context of a delightful book.

When pandemic social-distancing means we can’t shake hands, let’s offer metaphorical ones, especially to those who see the “wrong” animal in a simple drawing.

"Our blessed homeland" compared with "Their barbarous wastes" - by Tom Gauld show less

The letter E has fallen down the stairs and ended up in the hospital. Now the only way to get her back on her feet is for everyone to stop using her. But who will substitute for E? The other letters have to make a decision, ASAP. Z is too sleepy, P is always in the bathroom, and Y asks way too many questions. Thankfully, O rolls in to save the day, because he's "so well-rounded." Now E can rost up and got bottor . . . as long as ovorybody follows the rulos. Chock-full of verbal and visual show more puns, this zany book is sure to tickle both the brain and the funny bone. show less