I don’t think that children do enough reading and would like to see children read more, especially as there are so many excellent children’s books available. It is recommended that children should be reading (or read with/to in the case of young children and non-readers) for at least ten minutes each and every day, with the best time probably being before bed as a bedtime story.
I am a long way past being a child, but I still enjoy reading books aimed at the children’s market, the messages contained within are excellent learning tools. I also like it when I sit down with the children and they read their books to me and explain what the book is about.
Back in April I read a very charming children’s picture book about first impressions, friendship and never judging a book by its cover. This book was When Moggie Met Froggie, written by Julia Stebbing and beautifully illustrated by Stephen Stone, and it was very engaging and entertaining whilst delivering some very powerful messages in a subtle way using animals (you should give it a read). Now the sequel has been published, When Moggie and Froggie Met Doggie, and the author kindly sent me a copy to read and review.
The first book in the series was about first impressions, friendship and never judging people, this book follows in the same vein – a rhyming book that children will love reading whilst learning reinforcing the same messages.
Moggie is a scruffy looking ginger cat and whilst going about his daily business of hunting for his favourite snack food, mice, he hears a whimpering and wining cry. The thing is, this sound wasn’t coming from around him on the ground but up high in the tree and of all the things he expected to see it wasn’t the sight the befell him – a dog hanging from a branch. Now we all know that cats and dogs aren’t necessarily the best of friends, and Moggie and Doggie don’t get off to a very good start, but it transpires that Doggie was frightened into the tree by Froggie. Moggie and Doggie’s shared experience of Froggie is the start of another new friendship.
Overall, When Moggie and Froggie met Doggie really is a fun and charming little tale of friendships. It is a very amusing rhyming story that children will adore at bedtime and the perfect sequel to When Moggie met Froggie.
The rhyming text is short and fun but conveys the story extremely well, flowing well throughout the 28 pages of this enchanting book. Children will love having it read to them at bedtime and if they are independent readers, will love reading it for themselves as the text is very easy to read and understand.
Whilst the rhyming text is fun and very entertaining, the book has also been very beautifully illustrated by Stephen Stone. The illustrations are bold, bright and vivid and really do complement the story, doing an excellent job of helping explain what the text means.
Another excellent story about the importance of friendships that is enchanting and fun with its flowing rhymes and wonderful illustrations.
Moggie, Froggie and Doggie is fantastic friendly fun! A perfect story to encourage children to read for at least ten minutes per day.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £6.99 (Paperback) / £1.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit www.stickybunpublishing.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.