Tidy.( Ages 3 to 6)
By : Emily Gravett
Publisher : Two Hoots ( April 2016 )
Pete the badger wants to keep his forest neat and tidy. He doesn't like to see the fallen leaves or the muddy mess that occur after a heavy rain in the forest. He keeps on cleaning and it seems like an endless job for him. And the havoc he creates in the woodland is enthralling - as he tries to match all the flowers in the forest, scour and scrub all the rocks, groom the fox and bath all the birds! He decides to dig all the trees out to keep the ground leaf-free and then to concrete the forest to avoid muddy grounds. Alas! he didn't realize that he would not find food to eat afterwards or that he would be homeless! So he changes his mind, and with the help of his friends, together they put everything back to order or maybe "disorder" but who cares, as long as everybody`s happy!
Emily Gravett`s humorous tale accompanies her detailed illustrations well. Her laughable animal characters will keep the readers entertained. Kids without doubt will thoroughly enjoy scenes such as those of birds waiting in a queue holding tooth brushes and shampoo bottles while the badger washes the owl in the wash tub. Each double page spread is filled with similar detailed illustrations which in turn tell us a story with some added humor. The beautifully colored lush green,gold and brown forest with foliage abound is a treat for the ¨"audience"
The timeless message about appreciating nature for it`s inhabitants -regardless of it`s unruly messy unpredictability causing disarray- and the consequences of so called "development" are thoughtfully brought to the attention of the younger generation. A fine story to open up a discussion about the environment.
