Cubby Hunting

By Coral Vass & Nicky Johnston

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Coral has written many picture books including Walking Together, The Kelly Gang Kids and the Amanda Commander series. Nicky has illustrated many picture books, collaborating with a number of writers to produce The Mosaic,  New Home (Millie: The Cutest Puppy in the World #1), and Run Pups, Run, to name just a few.

In Cubby Hunting they have produced a cosy story about being the smallest, youngest, slowest person in a group and the strain of perpetually trying to keep up. Rosie, Izzy and Georgi go cubby hunting to find ‘a secret place just for us‘ and set off at speed. They each offer to help Max keep up but he wants to do it on his own.

‘Rosie dances and prances. Izzy roars and races. Georgi pirouettes and paces. Max cannot keep up.’ He is alone as the weather turns dark and thunder begins to rumble. He needs to find both shelter and the other children or they need to find him.

This is a lovely story where the mood never darkens. The children never gripe at Max for being slow, he never whinges that they are going too fast. A cubby is found and their patience, tolerance and generosity is rewarded.

Nicky’s soft gentle illustrations show the children smiling, happy, cheerful, enjoying their cubby hunt. Max has an expressive face that shows his changing emotions with only a few lines. The text is simple and direct with not a word wasted.

An enjoyable story where the message is gently delivered. For children aged 3+

Windy Hollow Books

Coral Vass

Nicky Johnston