Toby and the Tricky Things ISBN: 9781788002660
Published by Nosy Crow Ltd, 2019
The interesting thing about this picture book is that Iris, the new baby in Toby's family, has been around for sometime, age unknown, but old enough to sit up in a highchair. Toby while feeling that he is becoming a 'big boy' knows that there are certain things he can do (sort of), and others that are 'tricky' - like eating spaghetti, doing up his own buttons, and putting on his wellies right way round. But Mum is so busy with Iris, that somehow poor Toby has to cope on his own, not always with success. When Mum isn't too busy, she does help, but Toby still feels left out and cross. He decides he should go on an adventure, so packs a bag of toys, and does some brave things 'all by himself' like opening the door, climbing down stairs, and going to sit on the swing. But when the rain comes and he is cold and hungry, he doesn't feel so brave anymore, and Mum DOES come to the rescue. Hurrah! Then he explains that he doesn't want to be a big boy anymore; he wants to be a baby like Iris, and Mum says that he will always be her baby to her, even when he becomes a really big boy, and he is mollified. We do hope, though, that Mum finds she can spend rather more time with her boy, even though she is busy with the baby. A charming story with lots of good, often funny illustrations of Toby trying to do all the things he isn't quite ready for yet.
Age: 4+
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