Too Much for Turtle (Cat Rabbit & Isobel Knowles, Thames & Hudson)

With their beautifully delicate handmade felt and cardboard scenes, Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles have created another delightful book following their bestseller Owl Know How. In Too Much for Turtle, a shy, independent Turtle has everything she needs in her solitary treehouse, until one day a big storm brings to her doorstep a menagerie of different animals in need of shelter. In a cheeky resemblance to Noah’s Ark, Turtle faces teams of two, three, four and five wet and bedraggled creatures, and an oversized elephant, who all cause absolute mayhem in her apartment. In an act of friendship and teamwork, the loris enlists the group to help the distraught Turtle, who soon forgets to be shy and lives happily with her new friends in their ever-expanding treehouse. This is a warm, simple story with a touch of humour and a splash of rhyme, illustrated by intriguing and whimsical photographed images. Suitable for pre-schoolers, it teaches the importance of being compassionate and charitable, as well as reinforcing social skills. It also includes a bonus turtle sewing pattern. This book will no doubt inspire plenty of fun and creativity.

Romi Sharp is a teacher, writer and reviewer