Sparrow Fart

As soon as I picked up 'Sparrow Fart' with the bold cover illustration of a wee sparrow tucked up in its nest, complete with pillow and blanket and a 'cloud' of fart escaping from under the blanket I knew I was going to be chuckling by the end of the book.

This book didn't disappoint! It's such a fun story that I imagine will become a firm favourite, both as a bedtime story and in the classroom. There is lots of rhyme and repetition, "cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep", "peep, peep, peep, peep" making it a book I'd reach for to use as a read aloud for young classes, giving students to read these repeated words along with me. This text is highlighted in a different colour and font size, which also makes it easy to get students to join in.

Cartoonish illustrations by Scott Tulloch, with black outlines and bright colours add to the humour of the story, who knew there were so many different, colourful and interesting ways to draw a bird's fart?

There is something that kids love about fart humour, and I doubt I couldn't find a young reader who didn't love this book. As a bonus it is also printed in Aotearoa!

A must for every library shelf and I expect there might be a few reprints in Sparrow Fart's future!

Title: Sparrow Fart

Author: Samantha Laugesen

Illustrator: Scott Tulloch

Publisher: Luke the Puke Press

ISBN: 978-0-473-61088-3

RRP: (recommended retail price) $19.95

Format: Paperback

Date of Publication: (Month and Year)

November 2022

Ages: (Age range or level that the book is suitable for) 3+

Do you have any advisory warnings for this book: No

Would this book work as a read aloud? Yes

Is there a particular part of the country that it's set in? No

Reviewer: Louana McCormack, Librarian, Opaheke School, Auckland

How are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

What is the book's opening sentence? "Nan, I'm so tired," Says Tom with a yawn.

You can buy this book here.