The Whales on the Bus

Most of us might know the nursery rhyme The Wheels on the Bus, but what if there were two whales jammed into a double decker, being driven around town by a goldfish? Or a tiger in a glider – or, for that matter, sheep in a jeep? Wonder no more, as Katrina Charman and Nick Sharratt’s charming picture book has reimagined the classic nursery rhyme with brilliant results. Every new double page spread features a new animal driving or being a passenger in a new vehicle (the dragon in the wagon, roaring all day long is a particular highlight), rendered in Sharratt’s instantly recognizable high colour illustration, meaning that readers can sing along but also have a bit of a giggle at the new lyrics.

The bold visual style and nice big text means that the book is accessible both for adults reading and children looking at the pages, and the fact that this is a classic nursery rhyme is great for parents looking for something new yet recognizable at the same time. As well as the song aspect, there’s lots of new words to learn for little ones who are often very interested in both animals and vehicles.