Harper Collins Australia

September 2022

• SBN: 9780063256477
• ISBN 10: 0063256479
• Imprint: Clarion Books
• List Price: 12.99 AUD

To be perfectly honest, until the trailers for the movie came out, I had never really heard of this series, although I think I’ve had at least one of the picture books (the original one?) in my collection at some point. Maybe because sometimes American children’s books are eclipsed, for me at least, by our own kids’ lit (especially older ones) or maybe I’m just unobservant. *grin*

Whichever, Waber‘s series of Lyle books has been a staple favourite of US kids for some time, and it is easy to see why. This is the sort of nonsensical story that young children like with an absurdist titular character combined with family and neighbourhood interactions. There are some great themes of being your best self, regardless of who – or indeed, what – you are, which will make for some great discussion points with kiddos.

I am sure that many of your readers will have been to the movies to see this one over the Xmas break and as we know, the movie tie-in is always a great way to tempt those reluctant readers, particularly when the book is an easy read such as this.

Recommended for your kiddos from around Year 2 upwards, who would particularly enjoy it as a read-aloud (with subsequent classroom chats).