By Ann Bonwill, with illustrations by Simon Rickerty

A hippo called Hugo and a bird called Bella are getting ready for the Bird-Hippo Fancy Dress Party. They decide to go as 'The Princess and the Pea' but neither wants to be the pea. Well, you wouldn't, would you? Because they both want their own way, they can't agree on a costume and they almost don't go to the party at all.

Ann Bonwill's witty dialogue has some laugh out loud moments and it reads aloud very well making this a super choice for the primary classroom.

'I will be the mermaid and you will be my rock. You make a very fine rock.' Bird tells her friend. Hippo isn't convinced 'I don't want to be a rock. It is too grey and blobby', he protests. 'But you are grey and blobby' Bird points out.  Hippo's disdainful look makes his position clear, 'I will ignore that comment', he says.

The friends in this story may be a hippo and a bird but the relationship is  wholly believable and many young readers will have had similar disagreements with their friends becoming entrenched in positions that lead to an inevitable falling out. Ultimately everyone is miserable. Fortunately Hippo and Bird come to their senses and find a hilarious solution.

Simon Rickerty's loose black line illustrations focus on the characters' interactions emphasising the tone and tenor. The spacious compositions illustrate emotional fracture and distance. When the story reaches the discordant climax the characters are replaced by angry splodges of orange paint.

I Don't Want to Be A Pea is a perfect choice for teachers wanting to explore friendhsip, compromise and diversity. Economically told and perfectly paced, this should quickly becomes a favourite with children and their teachers.

ISBN 9780192780171
Publisher Oxford University Press

For more information visit the Just Imagine Story Centre.

 

Guest blogger Nikki Gamble has worked in education and reading promotion for over 25 years. Formerly a teacher (secondary and primary) and teacher educator, she is a lecturer, writer and education consultant. Following the completion of an MA in Language and Literature in Education at the University of London, Nikki taught literacy and children’s literature courses to undergraduate and postgraduate students at Anglia Polytechnic University. She is currently Director of Write Away UK and Associate Consultant at the University Of London, Institute Of Education.

Nikki is also on the current Executive Committee of United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA).

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