Foothand Elbownose

Kiah Thomas

Connah Brecon

Little Hare, 2019

24pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781760502027

While Max liked to splash in puddles and get his feet soaking wet, Right Foot had finally had enough.  Sick of being wet, living inside smelly, squelchy socks, and having to contend with prickles and stubbed toes, it finally rebels and demands to be a hand.  Max is open to the idea and for the rest of the day, Foot is happy being a hand, painting letters and helping Max eat his dinner.  But the trouble begins when the other parts of Max’s body decide they want to be different parts too and suddenly Max find himself with an elbownose, mouthear, headbottom,  and a tonguefoot and fingernail had just declared a wish to be an eyelash. Max is so confused he shouts “Enough!” but will the body bits agree to return to their original functions?

This is a quirky book cleverly illustrated that not only helps little ones focus on the parts of their body and how they are perfectly formed for the job they have to do, but also whether who they are is enough or is the grass really greener? Even though they might admire someone a great deal and want to swap lives with them, would they be really happy and suited to being that other person?

Exploiting the preschooler’s ability to totally suspend their imagination so that a foot becoming a hand is utterly plausible, both author and illustrator offer an opportunity for our youngest readers to indulge in the fantasy , perhaps even suggesting other swaps that could have hilarious consequences.