Armadillo and Hare

Armadillo and Hare are good friends, though they are quite different: Armadillo is quite large, fond of sitting in his chair and eating cheese sandwiches. Hare is rather more bouncy, plays the tuba and wears snazzy pyjamas.

In this collection of ten short stories, the friends meet other animals – a hard-to-spot Stick Insect, a rather impolite Jaguar and the unexpectedly effervescent transatlantic-sounding Elephant – in a variety of small but perfectly formed encounters, which philosophise on the nature of being, weather and friendship.

An absolutely adorable collection of small stories, ideal for reading to children aged four to eight (or as an independent read for the older end of the spectrum), Armadillo and Hare is full of the gentle humour and philosophy of Winnie the Pooh. It centres on the importance of small things (such as cheese sandwiches) that nevertheless are hugely important, and provide a great deal of pleasure in children’s (and adult) lives.

Jeremy Strong’s writing is absolutely flawless and perfectly paced, with brilliant and relatable characters.