Mark Sommerset

This is the third book by Waiheke Island couple Mark and Rowan Somerset. The cover of this book is appealing and attractive to preschool children and the simple illustrations are in varying shades of brown with orange and white. The font is quite light and looks as though it is drawn with crayon which would be easier to read if it was a bit darker. To be honest, I was unimpressed with this book which seems to be about a bully and bullying behaviour. The main character, and bully in question, is a sheep who takes practical jokes way too far when he convinces a turkey to eat poo by saying they are free ‘smarty tablets’. It must be okay for children as it has won the Children’s Choice Award for Picture Books in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards, 2011, but I don’t believe it is of good enough subject matter to make it into the level of a New Zealand classic.… (more)