ISBN:9781743435434

Publisher:Allen & Unwin

Imprint:A & U Children

Pub Date:March 2016

RRP $24.99

This is a delightful story to which young readers will easily relate.

Hattie loves to help out and she thinks she is very good at it. Baby Lottie is not so much of a help but that’s not her fault. One very busy day Mama is trying hard to get ready for Dad’s special birthday dinner.  There is so much to do – the birthday cake, the house cleaning, flowers to arrange and more. Hattie helps with the birthday cake but then it’s time for her nap – which is not a nap anymore insists Hattie. “It’s a rest…”. She persuades Mama to snuggle with her just for a few minutes and inevitably one very tired mother is sound asleep and Hattie is wide awake.

And because she is such a great helper she knows what she must do. Watch Hattie as she builds a delightful biscuit tower, arranges flowers all over the house including the light shades and toilet bowl, sweep the floor and all it’s stuff into a corner and shovel all the cooking equipment back into a cupboard.

When the family arrive for dinner and Mama finally wakes up they are all amazed at the wonderful surprise. Who could possibly ask for a more special birthday dinner?

With Freya Blackwood’s always exquisite illustrations this is a real treasure of a book and highly recommended for little humans from around 3 – 6 years old.