The Swap written
by Jan Ormerod, illustrated by Andrew Joyner (Little Hare Books) HB
RRP $14.99
ISBN
9781760128760
Reviewed
by Liz Ledden
Winner of the CBCA Book of the Year in
the Early Childhood category (2014), The
Swap has been released in board book format.
Little
Caroline Crocodile is jealous of her baby brother and the attention he
receives. The more Mama Crocodile gushes over him, the more jealous Caroline
becomes. The illustrations build on the text, with Andrew Joyner’s depictions
of Caroline cleverly conveying her emotions. When Mama Crocodile heads into the
Hat Shop to swap a hat that’s not quite right, Caroline gets an idea. She takes
her brother to the Baby Shop, and attempts to swap him for some other animal babies.
However, their cute features belie an array of difficult traits, leading
Caroline to take another look at her baby brother.
The Swap
examines sibling jealousy in a really fun way, with highly engaging characters,
and a big dose of humour and mayhem as Caroline interacts with all the
potential replacements for her brother. A heart-warming, satisfying conclusion
rounds the story off perfectly.
The Swap
would make a wonderful gift for a toddler or pre-schooler grappling with the
arrival of a sibling. This new format’s sturdy, square-shaped pages are perfect
for little hands, allowing the longevity this timeless tale deserves.
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