Yes, No, Maybe by Ursula Dubosarsky. Illus. by Andrew Joyner

Yes, No, Maybe is a wonderful interactive picture book to share with young readers. It is brightly illustrated and full of humour with quirky questions and answers. The clever introduction before the title page introduces a curious Guinea Pig wandering around wondering about all manner of things. She sees a signpost directing her to a Tree That Knows Everything and so the narrative begins.

Guinea Pig asks Tree all sorts of questions including:

· Can cows count?
· Can spiders make their own clothes?
·  Will the sun ever go out?
· Do robots get hungry?
· Can you sit on a cloud?
· Are clowns funny?

Before Tree provides a Yes, No or Maybe, readers have the chance to call out what they think. This provides a fabulous opportunity for lively discussion amongst children who may not always agree with each other. Tree’s immediate response is either Yes, No or Maybe but also thoughtfully responds with further information. Andrew Joyner’s brilliant full page colourful illustrations show expressive characters and are full of movement. The endpapers are a standout as is the busy, fun cover.

Yes, No, Maybe is a book that will be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages. A perfect addition to a school or public library.

Themes: Questions/Answers, Humour, Curiosity, Guessing, Guinea Pig, Tree of Knowledge.

Kathryn Beilby