About This Book:
In a new edition of Quentin Blake’s classic, the UK’s first Children’s Laureate tells a droll tale about love between unconventional birds of a feather—and the unforeseen rewards of letting go.
On her way to the village after a blustery storm, Angela Bowling stumbles upon a baby bird blown from his nest. “Oh goodness!” she exclaims. She scoops him up and off to home they go. She names the bird Augustus, wraps him in shawls, takes him around in a stroller, and feeds him only the best: warm milk, creamed carrots, and chocolate eclairs. After all, Augustus is now her loveykins, isn’t he? Under Angela’s coddling, Augustus grows bigger and bigger, until at last he needs his own special garden shed. But after another fateful gale, Angela is in for a shock when she discovers her loveykins finally spreading his wings. Told in Quentin Blake’s distinctive art style and quirky humor, this much-loved picture book—soon to be adapted for television by the BBC—is a charming lesson in how care, camaraderie, and letting go can help any creature, big or small, to soar.
*Review Contributed by Adrien Guerra, Social Media Assistant and Staff Reviewer*
Loveykins tells the story of Angela Bowling who has stumbled upon a baby bird when she was on her way to the village after a storm. Angela scoops him up and takes him home. She names the bird Augustus, takes him around in a stroller, and feeds him only the best human food there is. Augustus keeps growing and growing until he doesn’t fit in his own home and needs a special shed of his own. This is where he stays until there is another storm, and Angela discovers that Augustus has spread his wings and left the nest.
What I Liked: The art style of this book reminded me of Ronald Dahl stories which is what initially drew me in. I love how this book starts with Angela loving Augustus and wanting to take care of him the best way she knows how for her to find that the best way to care for him was to let him go. I enjoyed the pages in which Augustus meets the others in the neighborhood and the variation in the people that he meets. He meets someone out with their children, someone with a stroller full of dolls, and someone out pushing their brother in a wheelchair as their dog carries the cane.
I love that Angela was feeding Augustus, her loveykins, some of her favorite foods and was surprised that he got so big. Augustus looks terrified in each image as he is exposed to more and more of Angela’s antics which adds humor to the story. I love that we can see his expressions change as he is fed some of Angela’s favorite foods, and the big difference in when he gets to leave the nest.
Final Verdict: Loveykins is a cute, fun story about learning to let go and the rewards that come after. Children ages 3 and up will enjoy the quirky art style and the humor included throughout each page. Adults will enjoy reading this book with their children as they also think about the moments in which they first left their homes and when the time comes for their children to leave the nest.
*Find More Info & Buy This Book HERE!*
