Boomerang Books Info Bank

Simply illustrated, the purpose of this little book is a little difficult to define. It could be considered a relatively uncomplicated tale for younger readers--the addition of a moral twist simply an extra ingredient. But then again it could be a book that one sees often placed near the cashier and bought to give as a token of affection to that someone special. In so many ways the book serves both purposes well. Harry is a boy who likes himself a lot. In fact he likes himself so much that he comes to a rather early realisation that he may not just simply like himself but actually love himself instead. Then one day he meets Rose who agrees to help Harry discover real love. Rose is wise beyond her years and the sentiments that she expresses are prolific and profound-perhaps too much so. The book is crisp, text sharp and the limited colour palate used works to the book's advantage. The images of the two main characters are cute and likeable and the tale that is told is timeless and charming.

Fiona Edwards is an editor, journalist and teacher

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2008, Thorpe-Bowker

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