A Home Full of Friends

A delightful tale that encourages children to be kind and to do good deeds. A Home Full of Friends jumps off the shelf with its carefully, detailed hand drawn illustrations and embossed writing. The creatures that feature throughout the tale are softly drawn with big eyes and faces full of expression guaranteed to be a huge hit with young children. Reminiscent of a classic, this story reminded me of stories such as Animals of Farthing Wood and The Wind in the Willows. The story tells the tale of young Bramble, a kind Badger who sets out on a very windy day for something to eat. On his walk he comes across three of his friends - a squirrel, a toad and a hedgehog - who all need his help. Bramble worries he will not be able to accommodate all his friends and is anxious they will all keep him awake if they sleep in his bed. However, Bramble cannot refuse to help but when they arrive at his home, to Bramble's surprise, they have all brought their families with them - which makes Bramble panic even more. How will he accommodate them all and how will he feed them? Bramble soon discovers this his little bit of kindness in opening up his home to his friends leads to a delightful evening and a home truly full of friends. This story is written in rhyming couplets throughout which enrich its quality. The narrative is so engaging that you do not notice the rhyming couplets until you read it several times. The illustrations really add to the story as they are so detailed you will notice something new every time you read it. This is a tale rich in messages combined with the creation of kind and homely creatures; perfect for children of any age. Bringing classical stories back to life, this beautifully-illustrated and engaging tale was wonderful to read with my children. I couldn't help but fall in love with this story and it sits with pride on our book shelf. Picture book / Ages 3+ / Reviewed by Joanna Hewish, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 3+