These charming little books follow on from I Love to Sing and I Love to Dance making a set of four for early childhood-with a promise of further titles to come. Like their predecessors, they are full of childlike exuberance and energy. Everyone loves holidays and birthdays, especially when shared with a good friend. Ollie the zebra and his friend Fred, who is a dog, bound through the books doing all the things that make holidays and birthdays so much fun. On holidays it’s splashing, collecting shells, chasing waves, swimming, floating and, of course, eating ice-cream. On birthdays it’s surprises, treasure hunts, fairy bread, party hats and balloons. The holiday pace is maintained throughout, until Ollie and Fred are snug in their sleeping bag, listening to the sea singing softly, giving a nice cosy finish to the book. And the birthday rollicks along until the tired friends snuggle down into bed with a birthday balloon overhead. These engaging little books use simple language and hand-drawn text which is readable for the age level. The illustrations are simple, lively and charming, with just the right amount of detail to invite closer inspection. Perfectly shaped and sized for small hands, the books are well designed, with good child appeal.

Margaret Hamilton is a former children’s publisher. She now provides freelance publishing services and reviews

Tags: anna walker