Published by Macmillan Children’s Books, 2019.

Terry and Sue are best friends. Every year on their birthdays they always buy each other a ball. This year, however, Sue buys Terry a book. He’s rather taken aback and not really sure what to do with it. They try batting it and bouncing it but it doesn’t work very well. Eventually Terry starts reading the book and in no time he’s hooked. He just can’t put it down. He’s so absorbed in his reading that he neglects his friendship with Sue. Sue begins to regret buying Terry the book. That is until she starts reading it too.

The themes of friendship, tension and compromise are explored in a reassuring way. The book is also a celebration of reading: the sheer joy of getting lost in a book, and the fun that’s to be had in talking and laughing about a book with a friend. In an age where reading for pleasure is on the decline, it’s so important to see reading depicted as a pastime that’s as enjoyable as sport, a trip to the cinema, and playing in the park.

The cheerful illustrations painted in sweet shop hues using a combination of colour washes, printing and bold blocks of colour will really appeal to young readers. There’s lots of lovely detail and plenty of humour in the pictures too. I especially liked the end papers: glorious double page spreads of all different types of balls and books.

Rating: 💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 3+

I originally reviewed this book for the BooksforTopics website (click here for link). Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Books and BooksforTopics for sending me this book to review.