Not Last Night But the Night Before

Colin McNaughton (text)

Emma Chichester Clark (illus)

Walker Books, UK: 2009

ISBN: 9781406325560

Genres: adventure, fantasy, nursery rhyme, poetry, picture book

‘Not last night but the night before/ Three black cats came knocking at the door.' And so did many other characters and critters from various nursery rhymes, including Jack and Jill, Old Mother Hubbard and the Farmer's Wife (complete with three blind mice) but not the twenty-four robbers.

A small boy finds his bedtime interrupted by numerous visitors who bowl him over in their eagerness to get inside. It's not until the house falls silent, except for the small sound that summons him back to his room, that the child realises why all his friends have come at once.

A witty, whimsical poem with a rollicking rhyme that will delight young listeners/readers, Colin McNaughton's verse references an old skipping rhyme. The solid rhythm of the verse will work well for group recitation/reading as well by the teacher or parent. Emma Chichester's lively illustrations emphasise the slightly surreal experience the boy is having and contain fantastical details that will appeal to observant readers.

Great fun to read and just made to be shared.