Here Come the Cousins (Maggie Hutchings, illus Sarah Zweck, T&H)

In Here Come the Cousins, a young child eagerly awaits the arrival of their seven cousins at Pop’s seaside home. After hellos and measuring who has grown the most over the year, the cousins race to the beach to splash in the waves and tumble from the high rocks. They spend their days listening to stories about their parents, looking at old photos and playing board games. All too soon, summer is drawing to a close, but the anticipation of meeting again next year is already underway. Maggie Hutchings (Unicorn!, Your Birthday Was the BEST!) expertly captures the bonds shared within a big group of cousins. The reader can feel the excitement and fun building, the laziness of summer holidays unfolding, and the shared memories being made. The language is simple and sentences are short, making it ideal for preschool-aged children. Sarah Zweck’s detailed illustrations are full of movement, and the bright colour palette evokes the Australian summer: yellow sands; blue and white rolling waves; children sporting red, brown and blonde hair with vibrant bathers and beach toys. This book is sure to become a perennial favourite for the many children who relate to the special bonds among cousins and extended family. 

Books+Publishing reviewer: Erin Wamala is a teacher librarian and owner of The Kids' Bookshop. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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