At The Bach product reviews

When small children are introduced to a new book, it is vital that the presentation is pitched at the right level. This story was perfect for Miss Four and Mr One because the subject resonated with them - as with many Kiwi kids, beach holidays are an important event in their lives. The simple rhyming pattern with its extensive use of alliteration appealed to Mr One: even if he did not understand it all, the combination of repeated sounds and attractive graphics was enough to capture (and retain) his attention.

There were several connections that really brought the book alive for Miss Four. Apart from the familiar
beach setting, there were some details that reminded her of her own experiences. In the story, the little girl has a white shell that lives under her pillow. Miss Four, too, has a white shell that lives by her bed at home! When she saw the picture of the jigsaw puzzle on the table, she was excited because her own nanny does puzzles too when they all go on holiday. In fact. Miss Four was so taken by the book that she kept returning to the bookshelf so she could "read" it again. She loved looking at all the pictures on her own.

Hilary Jean Tapper's watercolour and ink drawings reinforce the beach impressions. Sandy shades dominate, with additions of blues and greens to reflect the sea and the shoreline. Even the colours of the fence palings and the bach of the title follow the sand theme. This book would be ideal to read as a bedtime story because it might encourage children to snuggle down and relax - just looking at the pictures made me sleepy!

It was not only the children who enjoyed the story. As an adult, I can remember similar holidays with my own extended family: bunk beds that creaked as the children topped-and-tailed, sand trailed right through the bach, the inevitable sunburn despite the lavish use of sunscreen, the sea so close to the bach that you had to walk only a few steps from the front door to get to the water's edge, mismatched furniture and kitchenware! These all feature in the story, and will no doubt cause much nostalgia for the parents and grandparents reading to their children. A holiday in a Kiwi bach is part of so many New Zealanders' childhoods. (Yes, we went camping too but it was not quite the same.)

I was pleased to see that the book has been produced as a hard-back edition. Although this does add to the price, it makes the product far more durable for little hands. Given that it is particularly suitable for under-fives, it is important that it can withstand the rough handling it might need to endure. There is nothing sadder than a loved book that disintegrates far too soon because it has been loved too enthusiastically!