It's no secret that I read stories for my children every evening, even if it means halting meetings when I'm away from home to create stories about the train to London, weird people and even the gargantuan funny stairs taking me from the insanity of the train networks to the sanctity of the rainy day outside. It's probably one of the only things I do for my children that can influence their futures by feeding their imaginations, something all children need in my opinions.
We are very fortunate to be sent a beautifully crafted hardback of epic proportions to review by the lovelies at Superhairies last week, that beautiful hardback is
Dog On Stilts. By children's bookwriting* duo James Thorp and Angus Mackinnon (Guys, could I get some of Earl Ketchup's toast please?)
But who is the Dog On Stilts? Meet Medium Dog is just an average, everyday dog - not particularly tall or spotty or interesting in any way. So he dreams up a way to become extraordinary, a dog to be noticed at last! An exquisitely illustrated story about friendship and the desire to be 'more', from the creators of the Weasel Puffin Unicorn Baboon Pig Lobster Race book.
I'm far from a book reviewer so forgive me for my ham-fisted approach here but let's tell the truth parent to parent here.
There are books designed to be read to children while many are good it feels like there are many rehashes of classic tales and those books so quick they're already over the moment you grasp the imaginations. And then you get books that completely captivate the imagination of those reading, listening and admiring the illustrations, Dog On Stilts is a winner all round on this in our house.
From it's beautiful illustrations, it's sections in small chunks easy for a child and to one of the best surprised I've seen in a while (it's coming later) The SuperHairies have done a fabulous job here on this book to encourage young imaginations to grow and expand through written word.
I liked the book so much I bought the Daddy reads video series out of retirement.
Now if you've watched the video you may know about the surprise. Well, one of them anyway, but there is another and it's none other than
Dog On Stilts, The Musical! A musical story treat your children will love,
While I can read like a loon the musicians have captured the story in a way I didn't think was possible, while it may not be to everyone's taste it should be a favourite with many.
I've gone to the trouble of embedding this for your aural pleasure
This book in my eyes is set to be a modern children's classic, a classic that would be at home on any book shelf and well loved through the generations, with the amount of love and attention given by the SuperHairies it's clear to me it's one of the children's books to buy.
Where can you buy the book? Well the hardback is available in stores now ready to take home with with an RRP of £10.99,with the Musical available freely on their soundcloud as embedded above.
For more information on the SuperHairies
clicky here
Thanks for reading
Paul
*Their own words, lifted from twitter.
