Oh Dear, Look What I Got!

A child sets out to the shop in search of a carrot, but finds he has been sold a parrot. 'Oh dear, look what I got! Do I want that? No, I do not!’', he cries. Off he goes once more in search of a hat…and comes home with a cat! And so the story continues until an unexpected puppy causes chaos. When the doorbell rings, all the shopkeepers are at the door. What do they bring?

Oh Dear, Look What I Got! is a delightful cumulative tale, full of fun and fabulous illustrations. The bouncy rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud and children will enjoy predicting what comes next as well as joining in with the repeated refrain of 'Oh dear, look what I got! Do I want that? No, I do not!' which comes after every mistaken purchase. The illustrations offer little clues - a bear's clawed paw poking from one bundle, a forked tongue from another - adding to the fun of predicting what is about to appear.

The story lends itself to creating additional trips to the shops, with children adding rhymes of their own before joining in with a chorus of 'Oh dear, look what I got! Do I want that? No, I do not!'! The illustrations are wonderful! On each journey to the shops, the child (I chose to use 'he'- no indication is given as to whether it is a boy or girl) is followed by all the previous creatures acquired and there are so many details to notice and enjoy. The story starts and continues on the end papers, offering children the opportunity to continue the tale with their own ideas about what happens next! Simply delightful!

Ages 4+ / 40 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+