L is for Love by Atinuke - Illustrated by Angela Brooksbank - #bookreview

 

L is for Love and L is for Lemons.

L is for Leaving, L is for Linger...

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A whole family set off to sell their luscious lemons at the market in Lagos. They leave before dawn with lamps in hand and loads on heads. They have quite an adventure ahead of them … over logs, on a leaky lorry, through lightning, past lions and leopards until eventually reaching Lagos. The city is bustling and loud – there are lots of legs to get lost between! – but they can finally sell their luscious lemons.

From the creators of B Is for Baby comes L Is for Love, a beautiful first book of words perfect for pre-schoolers learning their ABC. Children will love sounding out the words in this playful, adventurous and vibrantly illustrated story set in West Africa.

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Today is Valentine's Day, so what better day to review this lovely book for pre-schoolers, L is for Love.

 Today does not necessarily have to be about romantic love. It equally applies to loving a parent or child, or even a friend or a pet. This lovely picture book is a love-letter to Lagos, the place of the author's birth and where she partly grew up.

The illustrations tell a story all on their own. The text is simple in format, ideal for very early readers, with the artistic illustrations telling the story and moving it along. 

I have previously read and reviewed a book by this author, Too Small Tola Makes It Count, which you can read by clicking on the title. It was an equally lovely book, aimed at slightly older children than this book.

L is for Love is a joyous book. I can well imagine pre-schoolers poring over the illustrations of this delightful book, and equally enjoy the text being read to them. I highly recommend this book.

ISBN:  978 1529501483

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats:  Hardcover/Picture Book

No. of Pages:  40

About the Author:

Atinuke was born in Nigeria and spent her childhhod in both Afrika and the UK. She is the author of the bestselling Anna Hibiscus and No. 1 Car Spotter series, as well as Africa, Amazing Africa, B Is for Baby and Catch That Chicken among others. Atinuke started her career as an oral storyteller of tales from the African continent; now she writes about contemporary life in Nigeria. Atinuke lives on a mountain overlooking the sea in Wales.

About the Illustrator:

Angela Brooksbank worked as a designer and art director in the children's book industry before undertaking an MA at the Cambridge School of Art, and turning her hand to her own illustration. About her picture book inspiration, Angela says, "I am constantly inspired by children’s energy and unique response to life and hope that my work conveys some of their playful spirit." Baby Goes to Market, written by Atinuke, is her debut picture book. Find her online at angelabrooksbank.com.

(book courtesy of the publisher)

(author/illustrator bio info and photo courtesy of Walker Books / Paul Musso)

(all opinions are my own)