Read the book, Lemmings!

Foxy has a book on lemmings. It tells him that lemmings don’t jump off cliffs. But someone clearly hasn’t told the three little lemmings. On hearing the word jump, they enthusiastically throw themselves into the water. It is almost disastrous – then they repeat the action? Why? Haven’t they followed Foxy’s advice and read the book?

Bold lines, a minimal palette and a strong design that makes use of each double page spread allows the reader to join Captain PB on board ship while the lemmings hurl themselves off the deck with the cry “Geronimo”. Here words and picture combine perfectly to create energy and movement. The lemmings are portrayed with a disarming immediacy; they are small children geared to doing the opposite of what they are told, their comments providing a refrain to the storyline reminding the reader of Martin Waddell’s Owl Babies. But why would these little lemmings continue to court self-destruction? The reason is a neat twist and a subtle encouragement to learn how to read! Dyckman and Ohora burst on the scene with Horrible Bear. Their second book here in the UK does not disappoint – let us hope we see more from this energetic, humorous duo.