STEP
aside Mary Poppins, you have been trumped by Juicy the Peach; a sitter who
knows how to get kids on side with her scrumptious plans, irrepressible charm …
and … ahem … flatulence.
Sweeping
in with her strawberry helmet, fruity spectacles and twinkly-eyed smile, Juicy
manages to win over her charges with a mix of toilet humour, heaps of kindness
and spectacular popcorn explosions.
The
first in a series, Juicy the Peach & the Popcorn Palaver is a
lyrical, light-hearted story full of humour and heart.
A
go-to book for adventurous children, Juicy has a knack for helping the most
anxious among them realise time away from mum and dad can be okay – if only
they can be brave for a day.
Juicy
the Peach is brought vividly to life by NZ illustrator and animator Antony
Elworthy, lauded for his stellar work on Hollywood blockbusters The
Boxtrolls, Frankenweenie, Coraline and Corpse Bride.
Elworthy’s
images colorfully and charmingly underscore writer Anna Theed’s musical and
hilarious story, which will be a pleasure for readers of bedtime tales to share.
Theed
and Elworthy have four children apiece, so plenty of opportunity to test ideas
and see what really makes them tick.
Currently
busy animating in Portland, USA, Elworthy and his family love their nomadic
existence and the chance it gives them to see the world, but look forward to
returning to Christchurch later this year.
Theed,
an avid bookworm and entrepreneur, lives on Waiheke Island with her vineyard
manager husband, Sam.
“With
four kids under my belt, I have an even better understanding of what appeals to
children, what makes them smile, laugh, feel uncertain, shy,” beamed Anna.
“Combining
these elements evolved from going through various challenging stages with the
kids – from hospitilisation for rare operable conditions, to extreme shyness,
to great, giggling, fun times.
“There
is a message in Juicy the Peach to try and encourage kids to take a chance, be
brave and have faith that things will be okay, even when mum’s away.”
Published
by Beeswax Books, Juicy the Peach & the Popcorn Palaver (ISBN
978-0-473-32396-7) is available online and in good bookshops priced $29.95.
1 comment:
Can't wait to read it. Sounds like great fun.
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