Arthur and the What-Ifs

by Heath McKenzie

reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Arthur is a dog with a secret desire to play his violin. He has composed a tune but  he is too scared to  play it in public in case people hear it and laugh at him. What if no one likes his music? What if he made a mistake when playing? As you can guess, he is a total bundle of insecurities. But – he is invited to take part in a jam session and he so much wants to play that he goes in disguise.  What happens next is a lovely but not unexpected surprise.

This delightful story stunningly illustrated in bold colours is set in a big city peopled by all sorts eclectic types. The message about believing in yourself is gently delivered. This book is a celebration of the power of music to give pleasure to all and will appeal especially to  music creators.

Affirm Press  2019 Hardback Picture Book $24.99 32 pages Age 2 – 6 ISBN: 9781925870398