Billy and the Big New School
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Cover Story
This issue’s cover is from the gift edition of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory illustrated by Quentin Blake and with design and typography by Peter Campbell. The successful collaboration between Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake has played an important part in the popularity of Dahl’s work over the last fifteen years. Blake’s unmistakable artwork truly complements Dahl’s writing. His economical, amiable, illustrative style balances out Dahl’s often expansive language. And the liveliness, humour and pathos of the drawings offer a softer side to Dahl’s sometimes gloriously grotesque, sometimes cruel descriptions of his characters.
Thanks to Penguin Children’s Books for their help in producing this July cover which commemorates the thirty years anniversary of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s first UK publication.
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Billy and the Big New School
Billy is about to go to school for the first time and he is full of fears. In the garden he finds a sparrow fledgling which is also finding it difficult to leave the nest. The empathy between Billy and the bird is used to good effect as the bird learns to fend for itself and Billy discovers that he likes school after all, despite his fore-bodings. This warm and reassuring story will help young children and help parents to talk through their child's worries about 'big school.' It is simply written and has pleasant, soft illustrations which make it a good complement to the more robust style of books like the Ahlbergs' Starting School. It is suitable for toddlers going to playgroup or nursery, as well as those starting school.