Children's Book review

Oliver Who Was Small But Mighty

By Mara Bergman

Published by Hodder Childrens Books

Oliver isn’t quite sure about bathtime, and when there’s a storm going on as well, it’s a frightening prospect for a small boy.

Nevertheless he steps into his bath and his toy boat transports him through towering waves and a multitude of terrors, all of which he faces and overcomes. Eventually his parents gather him up from the bath and, clean and warm, he falls asleep.

The third story about Oliver, this reassuring text moves rhythmically and repetitively, engaging the youngest of readers who can quickly learn to join in with the rhymes. The illustrations (somewhat reminiscent of Ardizzone) are as wild as the bathtime weather, and as energetic as the wave-borne text, funny, simple but laden with additional information.

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Illustrator: Nick Maland

Reading age: 5+
Interest level: 3+