Shortlisted Picture Book Of The Year 2012: The Big Adventure Of The Smalls
There's drama and adventure on a grand scale in the storybook about Sally and Paul Small
It may be named Small Hall, but actually the stately ancestral home of Paul and Sally Small is huge – rather more Versailles than compact and bijou! In keeping with the lavish landscape, the majestic home also plays host to the annual Small Hall Grand Ball, a grand gathering of ladies in ballgowns and men folk all suited and booted. No wonder Sally and Paul are tempted to peep through the bannisters to see what's going on. But then disaster strikes. Paul's beloved teddy bear, Mr Puddles, falls into the ballroom, and the mischievous family dog, Lady Pom-Pom, is hot on his heels. And so begins a clandestine adventure where Sally and Paul have to hide among the guests on their quest to retrieve Mr Puddles.
This is a sweet tale of sibling companionship has a gently nostalgic tone, with many of the pages imbued with a golden yellow halo effect reminiscent of the classic Madeline books by Ludwig Bemelmans.
The Big Adventure Of The Smalls by Helen Stephens (Egmont, £10.99)
Who won the Picture Book of the Year award 2012?
Discuss this story
