Elaine Forrestal

Miss Llewellyn-Jones (2008)

by Elaine Forrestal,

 Illustrated by Moira Court,

Fremantle Press, 978 1 92136 117 3, 32pp.

REVIEWS

Here's a picture book designed to grab young readers' and get them joining in. The cover and end-papers are a delight ,bright and comical with hints in their detail as to what is in store when the book is opened.

And when it is, there is Miss Llewellyn-Jones doing her washing which she takes outside to peg on the line.

One by one the items she pegs out are blown away in the strong wind when the pegs holding them snap.

Her knickers are the first to fly away and they land on the head of scarecrow, then her jeans. Next to go is her t-shirt, followed by her socks.

By the time that she pegs her teddy out to dry both the reader and teddy know what is likely to happen and teddy, though initially blown off the line, manages to save himself from the fate that befell the rest of the washing.

Forrestal"s text is simple but with a lovely cadence to it that makes it a perfect read-aloud, With its large, clear print and repetitive, uncomplicated text many young readers will feel confident to try to read it for themselves, especially after they have heard it read. Court's colourful naive-art illustrations are the perfect support for Forrestal's text; uncluttered but with sufficient interesting detail to get the reader wondering on which item each flying article of washing might land.
Reminiscent of "Mrs Mopple's Washing Line", sadly out of print, this is sure to be read and re-read.

Annette Dale Meiklejohn "Magpies"

Poster of Miss Llewellyn-Jones

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