Hello Tilly

Dunbar, Polly. 2008. Hello Tilly. Candlewick Press.

I'm happy to be presenting reviews of four new books in a clever new series by Polly Dunbar. The first book, Hello Tilly, introduces young readers to a little girl and her houseful of animal friends: Tiptoe, Tumpty, Pru, Hector, and Doodle.

There's an old-fashioned splendor to the Tilly and Friends books. Perhaps based largely on the art, there's a quality that evokes a feel-good feeling. Something about them that just makes me grin from ear to ear. Both the art and text are simple, playful, and sincere. There's just a joy to them.

Each book begins, "Tilly and her friends all live together in a little yellow house." The books can be read in any order. But this one is the first one of the series.

Tilly
was sitting
quietly.

She was
reading her
favorite
story.

But though the book begins off quietly enough, soon Tilly's interrupted and the play begins as we meet each of her friends one by one. Here's how Hector (the pig) joins in:

Tilly played her trumpet.
Tiptoe banged his drum.
Hector joined in.
He danced the wiggly-woo!

I hope you'll enjoy this series as much as I did. I really can't recommend them highly enough!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers