Koala and the Flower by Mary Murphy (Egmont Children’s Books pound;4.99) is the first of two unmissable picture books for infants. Badger and Raccoon see things in black and white; when young Koala starts asking questions, they are only prepared to respond from their own blinkered perspective.
Mary Murphy makes young minds think - about looking at colours and colour blindness; about curiosity and the hunger for knowledge; and about libraries as the source of information - and achieves all this with a magical lightness of touch.
The Water Hole is a stunning counting book from Australian picture-book artist, Graham Base (Abrams pound;12.95). The depiction of the slow drying-up of a water hole was inspired by a safari tour through Kenya and Tanzania, and is given an international flavour with the inclusion of creatures from around the world.
A Water Hole illustration competition offers a class trip to Longleat Safari Park as first prize. Closing date January 4, 2002. Entry forms from Rhian Gallagher, Publicity Dept, Harry N Abrams Inc, 181A High Holborn, London WC1V 7QX
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