Frankie the Blankie

Jennifer Sattler

Bloomsbury, 2016

32pp., board book, RRP $A11.99

9781619636750

 

Doris the Gorilla carried her bright purple blankie Frankie everywhere.  She loved it dearly and it was always with her giving her comfort and keeping her from being lonely. But one day  Rhinoceros tells her that only babies have blankies and Doris feels really embarrassed.  So she devises all sorts of ways that she can keep it with her so it is anything but a blankie – it’s a bandage, a hankie, a hat… But each solution has its downfalls until Lemur makes a suggestion and suddenly not only are Doris and Frankie reunited but they are the talk of the jungle!

Blankies are such important accessories for so many of our youngest listeners that this story will resonate with them.  The solid storyline will keep them engaged as they make suggestions about what Doris can to to keep her blankie without seeming to still be a baby (very important for toddlers) and the vibrant animation-like illustrations will attract their attention, taking them right into the jungle with Doris and at her level. How do they think she felt when Rhinoceros bullied her and why did she listen to him. What could she have done? Some food for thought as they start to interact with children beyond their siblings.  They might even re-think what they do with their own blankie.

This is one to share with the parents of preschoolers who are looking for something new to share with their littlies and encourage a love of reading.