Handbag Friends - a small stiff-paged hardback picture storybook, shaped like a handbag, with a sturdy pink handle on the spine - was launched last night at a special party event held at Portcullis House, Westminster.
David Fickling unveils the bag (movieclip)
Sally Lloyd-Jones has written the story, about six dispossessed friends who find themselves homeless, in the manner of the type of imaginary land stories writtten by six or seven-year olds themselves, and this childlike quality gives the book much charm. Sue Heap's illustrations are sweetly comical. I particularly like the early double-page spread showing all the princesses of the land having to find alternative ways of carrying their possessions following the great handbag theft by the evil Clasp. One carries a kettle, another a wellington boot. Poor princesses!
David Fickling has had much fun publishing this title, under the imprint David Fickling Bags. Its target audience are 5-7 year-olds who have learnt to read but are not ready for monochrome chapter books (see the author's article in last week's TES), but older children will enjoy the humour in the story, especially the cinematic-style credits at the end.
The Handbag Friends have their own song, sung to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star:
Leave a comment