Blue & Bertie product reviews

I really wanted to review this book because I thought it might help teach my daughter that trying new things might be scary but sometimes they can be fun and exciting too. My daughter just started school in term 2 of this year and I've been worried about how easily she'll make friends because she usually shys away from anything new and doesn't like to join in new activities.

This book is a lovely story about a giraffe, Bertie, who is very similar to my daughter and does things, with his family, a certain way, the same way, all the time but one day he sleeps in and is separated from his family. He finds another giraffe, Blue, who teaches him that new things aren't always scary and it makes like more fun and interesting to mix things up every now and again. Eventually they find Bertie's family and Blue prepares to say goodbye because he doesn't think he'll fit in but instead Bertie and his family make him welcome and even change their usual habits.

The illustrations throughout the book are beautiful with many wonderful things to look at. In one page you even have to turn the book on it's side which makes the giraffe's look larger than life. I really like books that have different sizes and shapes for the words, it somehow makes it feel like more fun to read.

I absolutely love this story line, I think it's perfect for not only kids but adults as well. We all need to remember that, in this rat race we call life, there are wonderful things if we just take the time to look around us and try something new and different. I would fully recommend this to any parent looking for a new book for their kids, young or old.

I think I have found a new favourite book to read to the pre-schoolers, Blue and Bertie is one of the most endearing book I have read in a long time. The story is one which warms your heart, it is written in a format that encourages everyone to join in, as the author has woven lots of onomatopoeic words into the story. The story it self has lovely values woven within it, it's ok to try new things, it's ok to be different, it's ok to be afraid, and that friendship is important.

The lead characters are two giraffes, one a traditional looking fellow, the other a beautiful blue, both of them are endearing to look at, and the art in the whole book reminds me of the current adult colouring books, all filled in and brought to life as a story book. The font and size of the writing changes within the story - there is a real effort to breathe magic into the story from start to finish, including one page where you turn the book to make the giraffe's even taller! Almost every page has a little bird placed on it somewhere to find, and on other pages there is a little frog, these little details help encourage the reader to explore the pages a little closer.

I think this book will be treasured by both children and adults alike, it is one of those stories you can read again and again, and neither adult nor child will tire of it. Personally I am putting this on my buy and have in the cupboard for an emergency gift, as it would be a great present for any preschool boy or girl between the ages of two and five. I was so inspired by this story I googled the author / illustrator and found the other stories that she has written (and one awards for) and will be purchasing those too.