Giraffes Can't Dance

Best Classic Book *Highly Commended*

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees Orchard, £5.99, 2+

You might not instantly think of giraffes as the philosophical sort, but then Gerald is used to flouting convention. Who says giraffes can’t dance? Well, everyone at first, but for Gerald, it’s simply a case of finding the right music and his own individual style. Penned by well-versed poet, Giles Andreae, Giraffes Can’t Dance is a joyful read about an outsider who finds acceptance on his own terms. First published in 1999, children delight in the playful antics of prancing animals, brilliantly evoked in exuberant style by illustrator Guy Parker-Rees, but there’s also a simple moral about tolerance and daring to be different. Philosophy for toddlers? “A sideways approach of silly animals with a bit of humour is a good way of getting under a child’s skin without them even knowing it,” says Andreae. “It helps them to absorb what might otherwise appear to be complex ideas.”

Read about our other Highly Commended Best Classic Book, The Jolly Postman