Tim Saunders farms sheep and beef near Palmerston North and is the author of two children’s picture books including this one. Carla Martell hails from New Zealand and has a wealth of experience having worked on more than 13 books .
In The Sheep That Stole the Farmer’s Hat there is stunning bright colour which complements the bouncy repetitive rhyme. In each four line verse the first and fourth lines are repeated or very similar.
This cheerful rhyming picture book features familiar animals that will amuse young readers. Tim has used colloquial language – paddock, chooks, that give a country relaxed feel to the text. The rhyme keeps the action flowing, although it is a bit clumsy at times which hampers the flow of reading out loud. The bright and cheerful illustrations add zest and zing and the whole is an attractive package for children aged 3 – 6.
