Party rhyme by Antoni Pesenti

An inviting board book which contains lots of rhyming fun for the very young, this will be one of those books that is sought out by the reader. Each page folds out to make a three-page spread. On the left-hand side are two words, ‘Birthday balloons’ for example. The picture on the facing page shows a number of balloons tied to a gate to tell people where the birthday party is. When that flap is opened, the rhyming word is given, in this case, 'Rhyming baboons', and a picture is given of the baboons tied to the gate.

Kids will laugh out land, not only at the pun on the words, but also the illustration. Younger readers will begin to predict the rhyming words as the pages are read, imagining the illustrations that may be used. They will love folding out the pages for themselves.

Bright, colourful illustrations can be found on every second page and the bold use of primary colours makes each page memorable.

The tenets of all birthday parties are all shown; wrapping paper, balloons, pass the parcel, musical chairs, party pies, fairy bread, party pies, fizzy drinks, donuts with sprinkles, blowing the candles out and making a wish. Kids will love the roll call of things to expect at a birthday party and be thrilled when recognising things they have done at a party.

Pesenti, a Sydney based architect, author/ illustrator has also published Rhyme cordial and Rhyme hunger.

Themes: Verse, Rhyming words, Party time, Birthdays, Humour.

Fran Knight