Juliette MacIver and Sarah Davis are incredibly talented in their own rights, but when they combine their talents they create magic. Juliette and Sarah have previously worked together on the wonderful Marmaduke Duck books for Scholastic, and when I heard they were collaborating on a new picture book for Gecko Press I knew it was going to be a great book. In their new picture book for Gecko Press, Toucan Can, Juliette and Sarah introduce us to a very colourful and talented Toucan.
Toucan can do lots of things!
Toucan dances!
Toucan sings!
Toucan bangs a frying pan!
Can you do what Toucan can?
Toucan can do lots of things!Toucan Can is one of my favourite picture books of the year. It’s got all the ingredients of a wonderful picture book. Juliette MacIver’s delightful text will tangle your tongue and trip-up your lips, and once you get going you just can’t stop. Toucan certainly can do lots of things but I’d like to see him try to read this book perfectly without tripping up. Sarah Davis’ illustrations are absolutely stunning and they make the colourful characters jump off the page. I love Sarah’s style of illustration because you can see each brush stroke and pencil line, and the colours she uses are so rich. I really like the layered effect that Sarah has used in these illustrations. The further back the animals are in the illustration, the more faded and washed out they are. The expressions on the animals faces are also delightful. Toucan especially has lots of different expressions, from ecstatically happy as he dances to slightly worried when he’s asked ‘Can Toucan do what YOU can do?’
One of the things I like the most about Toucan Can is that it addresses the reader and engages you. You’re asked ‘Can you do what Toucan can?’ and Juliette suggests there are many things that you can do that Toucan can not. Sarah’s illustrations also bring the focus back to the reader. As Toucan and his friends dance, juggle, flip and flop, they’re looking out at you from the page.
Everyone should go out and grab a copy of Toucan Can to treasure and read again and again. It is certain to add colour and laughter to your life and will have you dancing along with Toucan and his friends.
