Review Blog

Sep 27 2012

What's the time, Mr Wolf? by Debi Gliori

Bloomsbury Books, 2012. ISBN 978 1 4088 1940 1
(Ages: 4+) Recommended. Picture book. Nursery rhymes. The well known refrain, What's the time, Mr Wolf? is on most pages in this engaging and colourful picture book, extolling many well known nursery rhymes, inviting readers to join in and then recognsie the characters and the rhymes that they know. Much fun will be had either in the classroom or at home, as children, teachers and parents try to find the many references given.
From being woken at 7 am by four and twenty blackbirds, asking the time, then hearing his neighbours in their straw, wood and stone houses slamming their doors on the way to work, or Red Riding Hood knocking on his door with the morning post, Mr Wolf is besieged by people asking the time or simply interrupting his day. Lots of references to time and the passing of time continue throughout the fun filled book until the last page when we find what Mr Wolf has been rushing to do.
The references to nursery rhymes in the text are paralleled in the illustrations encouraging children to find as many characters and situations that they know about. I can imagine many children will have a great time with this large picture book, full of detailed and colourful illustrations. This will be a book to share, and read over again, finding something new each time it is read.
Fran Knight