The Glump and the Peeble

Written by: Wendy Meddour

Illustrated by: Rebecca Ashdown

Published by:  Frances Lincoln Children’s Books July 2016

Ages:   4 – 8 years

Theme: Friendship, being different

Opening Lines: The Glump lived alone, In a cave, in a wood. He tried to come out – but he just never could.

Synopsis: From the back of the book…   It’s not easy when you’re a glump that wants to be a peeble. And it’s not easy when you’re a peeble that wants to be a glump. But when the Glump meets the Peeble, magical things start to happen.

Why I like this: Wow! Well for lots of reasons I love this story. Firstly what attracted me to this book was the colourful cover and some of the quirky-cute illustrations inside. Like when the Clump goes to sleep sucking his finger, or when Peeble was sleeping she dreamt about being on Mars and all the animals had space helmets on. The other reason was I wondered what a clump was. In fact I still don’t know. I only know he lives in a dark cave and has bright orange spindly arms and legs and is rather shy and nervous. Even the peebles aren’t what we would expect them to be, being something between a flower bulb and a bird. Regardless, it is their friendship that is both unique and sweet. The jaunty rhyming text is a great read aloud both, in the library, at home, or in the classroom. I can imagine the teachers asking the kids to use their imagination and think of an unusual friend to write or illustrate. A feel good story about friendship and not conforming, it’s one that you’ll never tire of reading and a young child will never tire of hearing.  Aren’t those illustrations just the best?

Resources/Findings:

Help students chose a page of illustration and write about it. What do they see and what do they think is happening?

Ask students to draw their own invented animals. They can then create unique names for their animals. Write a poem about them.

During the revision process, help students focus on word relationships and nuances. Once the poems are complete, hold a poetry reading with treats for your stunning poets.

Ask students to write or draw what friendship is to them. Have they shared something with someone this past week? What was it? How did it make them feel?

Wendy has published over 15 children’s books including the latest…   Lubna and Peeble March 2019 and Stefano the Squid: Hero of the Deep also out March 2019   See here on amazon….   https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Meddour/e/B006UTQQB2

Rebecca’s website…   https://www.rebeccaashdown.me/profile

Wendy’s website…     https://wendymeddour.wordpress.com/

I’m always happy reviewing Picture Books that come my way and share them with you.  If you would like to see more please pop over to Susanna Leonard Hills Blog where there are hundreds of books reviewed by other like minded authors and writers.  Thank you for popping in and I hope you return again soon.