Book Review: Two time the treat! Authors release new books together

Titles: 'A Book For Baby' and 'Trixie Triangle'

Authors: Kellie Magnus and Michael Robinson

Reviewed by: Robyn Miller

Kellie Magnus has chalked up yet another fine piece of storytelling in her growing collection of children's books, this time with A Book For Baby.

At the recent launch at Bookland in New Kingston, A Book For Baby shared centre stage with Trixie Triangle by illustrator-turned-writer Michael Robinson and a roomful of tiny tots, a buzz of activities in tow, as they hung on to every word.

The children - from newborn to about seven years old - were a storyteller's dream as their ears and eyes perked and popped at the colourful illustrations which make up the 12- and 14-page hardcover books, respectively. Leaning forward in their seats, they were tickled pink as the adults pretended to be babies while the stories were being read.

The brightly coloured pictures throughout the books provide early stimulation for the young ones, and are appropriately bolstered by bold, easy-to-read text that is interactive and chock-full of rhyme and rhythm.

The opening lines of A Book for Baby reads:

"Hello, Baby

Hello, look!

Baby has a brand new book

Hello, Baby,

Read with me

Let's start off with ABC

Hello, Baby,

Read some more

We can count one, two, three, four,"

Magnus, who believes Jamaica is "a country of storytellers", manages to capture the bond between mother and child from the get-go, as the first page opens up with a mother sitting on a settee with her baby in one hand and a book clutched in the other as she reads.

starting early

Cleverly reinforcing the importance of parents engaging in regular reading with their children from a very early stage, a stack of books atop a shelf on a bright orange background completes the picture.

Magnus bemoans the failure of many parents in reading to their children, an activity which she believes "should start from the baby is in the womb".

"It kills me when I hear of low literacy levels, because if parents would just read with their children, get the child to read early, it would solve many of those problems."

The daughter of veteran broadcaster Alan Magnus, the younger Magnus' love affair with books started when she was only a tot, as she remembers immersing herself in them. It was while studying at university abroad that it struck her how very few children's books there were that captured the imagination of Jamaican children and their culture.

While this is Robinson's first writing project, Magnus has already written more than 16 children's books, including the popular Little Lion series.

Robinson, who does double duty on the artwork in Trixie Triangle, takes a different approach to the learning process by incorporating shapes and colours in his illustrations, including the Jamaican national colours.

Endorsed by professor of Child Health, Child Development and Behaviour, Maureen Samms-Vaughn of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, who spoke at the launch, A Book For Baby is slated for use in a study by the UWI which will seek to trace its impact on the development of young children.

A Book For Baby and Trixie Triangle will also form the Ministry of Education's pilot project in the Book Start Jamaica Programme. Both books are distributed by Novelty Trading Company.