Loveykins - Softcover

Blake, Quentin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0099434237 ISBN 13: 9780099434238

Publisher: Red Fox, 2003

Synopsis

One bright spring morning, after a night of gales in the great woods, Angela Bowling discovers a small helpless bird who has fallen from his nest. Determined to help, she scoops the creature up and bears him home. From that day forth, Angela lavishes all her nurturing care and attention upon the bird. Augustus is wrapped in the softest of blankets and is fed the finest of foods. He travels in style in an elaborate basket, or in his magnificent pushchair. Nothing is too good for Angela's little loveykins. And when Augustus becomes too large for his blankets, or his basket, or his pushchair, Angela builds him a shed of his very own. All is well, until one fateful night when the storms rage through the great woods once again . . .

About this title

Review:

Loveykins by renowned illustrator and former Children’s Laureate Quentin Blake is the tale of a baby bird that falls out of its nest and is discovered by spinster of the parish Angela Bowling.

Angela takes the bird home and names him Augustus--although he's more often referred to by his pet name, Loveykins. She proceeds to spoil him absolutely rotten--feeding him cakes and chocolates and taking him out for walks in a pushchair, swaddled in various jumpers and blankets to stop him catching cold. Augustus grows to mammoth proportions with all this indulgence and has to be kept in the garden shed. However, a heavy storm one night gives Augustus the opportunity to break out of his sheltered life and Nature takes over...

Blake's trademark quirky illustrative style is perfect for this gently satirical story. The facial expressions of the characters (especially Augustus's look of bliss when he’s being fed or his stunned reaction to being wrapped up like a baby) are a source of delight throughout. Suitable for ages five and upwards. --Alison Drury

Review:

"Blake's drawing has an almost reckless vitality and a distinctive, mercurial line - which he seems only to have to fling at an idea in order to retrieve a spontaneous, expressive image" (Joanna Carey Guardian)

"Ideas about childhood and growing up are obviously major themes in the book but are cleverly woven into the story, avoiding sentimentality. There is gentle humour in both the text and especially the illustrations in this book" (Mary McLaughlin Inis)

About this edition

• Publisher: Red Fox
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0099434237
• ISBN 13: 9780099434238
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32